Do you remember the last American winner of the ATP Finals? It’s fine if you do not, as it happened 25 years ago!
Taylor Fritz crowned his career-best season with the ATP Finals title clash. The 27-year-old American faced world no. 1 Jannik Sinner and fell in straight sets, finishing runner-up. Thus, Fritz missed a chance to become the first American ATP Finals champion since Pete Sampras!
The Americans were players to beat at the ATP Finals during the 90s. They claimed six titles from ten editions and embraced the last all-American title clash in 1999. Pete Sampras ousted Andre Agassi, lifting a trophy and standing as the last American winner of the premium ATP event.
TAYLOR’S TIME 🤩
The moment @Taylor_Fritz97 sealed his place in the #NittoATPFinals final for the FIRST time! 👏 pic.twitter.com/m8DW3zI5L2
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 16, 2024
No one could have predicted that 25 years ago, and Fritz failed to end the drought in Turin a few weeks ago. Andre Agassi lost a couple of finals in the early 2000s, and James Blake fell to Roger Federer in 2006. The greatest tennis nation had to wait for 18 years to see another finalist.
Taylor played well in Turin, losing to Jannik Sinner but reaching the semi-final with triumphs over Daniil Medvedev and Alex de Minaur. After a massive battle, Fritz took down Alexander Zverev and reached the title clash a couple of months after chasing the US Open crown.
Sinner was his rival in both finals, and Fritz failed to pass the most challenging obstacle. Jannik beat Taylor 6-4, 6-4 in an hour and 24 minutes in Turin, wrapping up an incredible season with his eighth ATP trophy.
Jannik Sinner & Taylor Fritz, ATP Finals 2024© Stream screenshot
Fritz falls to Sinner in Turin
The Italian claimed nine points more than the American and turned them into straight-sets victory. Taylor took 13 points in ten return games, creating one break point and missing it. He felt the pressure behind the initial shot and suffered two breaks from six chances offered to his opponent.
Sinner provided 28 winners and 14 unforced errors, taming his strokes superbly and sending the pressure to the other side. Fritz responded with a decent 19-16 ratio and added 21 service winners to his tally.
However, he struggled from the baseline against the machine on the other side of the net. Jannik took charge from the back of the court, building a 39-26 advantage. The home favorite took charge in the shortest rallies and outplayed the rival in the mid-range and most extended ones.
US Open finalist ✅#NittoATPFinals finalist ✅
Career high World No.4 ✅@Taylor_Fritz97 is on the rise! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/7MU9L4n77z— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 17, 2024
They served well in the opening four games. Fritz dropped the opening two points of the fifth game before taking four straight points, moving 3-2 up with a service winner. Jannik locked the result at 3-3 after 19 minutes and made a push on the return in game seven.
He created four break points and converted the last with a drop shot winner, opening a 4-3 advantage. Sinner cemented the lead with a service winner in game eight and served for the opener at 5-4. Taylor saved a set point and earned his only break chance after a backhand down the line winner.
Taylor Fritz, ATP Finals 2024© Stream screenshot
Sinner denied it with a service winner and fired another on a set point for 6-4 after 41 minutes. The American led 30-0 in the fifth game of the second set before experiencing a setback. He saved the first break point before missing a forehand on the second, finding himself a set and a break down.
Sinner landed two winners at deuce in the eighth game, holding and opening a 5-3 advantage. Taylor held at love in game nine, reducing the deficit and chasing one last chance on the return. However, the Italian held at 15 with a forced error, moving over the top and lifting a trophy.
Taylor Fritz, ATP Finals 2024© Stream screenshot
Do you remember the last American ATP Finals champion?
As we already said, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi fought in an all-American ATP Finals title clash in 1999 in Hanover. Pete won 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 in an hour and 46 minutes, becoming the last American champion of this event.
Agassi fought well in sets two and three after a terrible start. However, Sampras controlled the pace of the duel, keeping the points short and taming his strokes superbly. Pete landed over 40 winners and locked the unforced errors on 30, outplaying his compatriot.
Pete Sampras, ATP Finals 1999© Stream screenshot
Sampras failed to win a rally above six shots! However, it cost him nothing as they embraced only three extended exchanges. Pete had the upper hand in the quickest exchanges, earning the title in that segment. The younger American dominated with his first serve.
He saved three of four break points and mounted the pressure on the other side. Agassi could not find the first serve and struggled to follow the rival’s pace. Andre dropped over 40% of the points in his games, playing against nine break points and suffering five breaks.
Pete drew the rival’s mistake in the second game of the match, landing a sharp return and building an early advantage. Agassi closed the fourth game after four deuces and wasted a game point two games later. He netted a routine backhand on a break point and fell 5-1 behind.
Pete Sampras & Andre Agassi, ATP Finals 1999© Stream screenshot
Pete served for the opener in the seventh game and landed a volley winner for 6-1 in 29 minutes. Sampras hit a couple of double faults in the second game of the second set, dropping serve and falling 2-0 behind. Agassi cemented the lead with a service winner in game three.
He made another push at 3-0 and landed a backhand winner for two break chances. Pete denied them and held with service winners, remaining within one break deficit. Andre produced a hold at love for a 4-1 lead before facing issues in game seven.
Agassi sprayed a forehand error, losing serve and bringing his opponent back to the positive side. Sampras held at love with a booming serve in game eight and made another push on the return at 5-5. Andre netted a routine backhand, getting broken and falling 6-5 behind.
Pete Sampras, ATP Finals 1999© Stream screenshot
Pete served for the second set in the 12th game and held at 15, moving 6-1, 7-5 in front after 70 minutes. With nothing working his way, Agassi placed a forehand wide at the beginning of the third set, losing serve and propelling his rival closer to the top.
Sampras saved a break point in the fourth game with a winner at the net and held for 3-1. he created a break chance in the next one, and Andre denied it with a powerful serve. Pete landed an ace in the eighth game for 5-3, keeping the pressure on the other side.
The older American served to stay in the match in the ninth game and brought it home with a service winner. Sampras served for the title at 5-4 and fired an ace, sealing the deal and celebrating his fifth and last ATP Finals crown.
Tennis World USA