NEW YORK (AP) — Jannik Sinner climbed into the stands after winning the US Open title On Sunday, he hugged the people who cheered him the loudest in a crowd that largely supported his American opponent.
seal was happy to be among them.
The British singer and the world number one Italian tennis player became friends at the US Open two years ago and Seal was there again when Sinner defeated Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-4 and 7-5 to win the tournament for the first time.
“He proves that you can have it all, be on top of the world and still have compassion, balance, love and understanding for the good fortune of your position,” Seal said, “and therefore use it in the most positive and beautiful way.”
Seal, a tennis fan, said he met Sinner in New York through a mutual friend and they have stayed in touch since then. He sat two rows behind Sinner’s trainers during the match and waited with his friends and family for almost two hours after the end of the match for the two-time Grand Slam champion to finally receive his trophy.
Sinner won the first two sets easily and then caught up in the third set after Fritz took a 5-3 lead and the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd cheered him loudly.
“Playing an American at the US Open was never going to be easy,” Seal said. “But I have to say, the New York crowd is very knowledgeable when it comes to tennis and I think they had respect and sympathy for Jannik – it’s easy to like him.”
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AP Tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis .
