US Open – Men’s final live: World No. 1 Jannik Sinner takes first set at Flushing Meadows… leaving home favorite Taylor Fritz with a mountain to climb

Fritz starts with an ace and almost gets another, but is denied when Sinner somehow stretches to reach the ball, only to be beaten on the next effort.

The American quickly found himself at 40-0 and won the game quickly to tie the second set once again.

Fritz improved a lot in the second set and Sinner knows he needs to improve his game when he’s not serving.

That’s much better from the home favourite, who breaks Sinner’s serve to make it 15-15 but can only finish with a poor close-range shot into the net.

Sinner continues this strange streak of missed serves in the second set, but manages to take the lead when Fritz is out on one of his deep returns.

He then wins the game, as Fritz somehow finds his way back for a quick delivery in the air and almost out of the stadium. Sinner in control.

Fritz is finding his rhythm on his serves in the second set, converting seven of eight to open up a 40-0 lead in the match.

This resulted in a victory that tied the score and Sinner now needs to hold his serve or Fritz will worsen his chances of suffering a setback.

There’s a bit more competition when Fritz makes Sinner throw some weird shots that the European just can’t pull off, opening up a 30-15 lead.

Both players win another point each and Sinner is in danger of being taken to the draw, but he regains his composure and wins the game with an unanswered forehand.

This is a key win for Fritz as he basically does exactly what Sinner did to him a game earlier and we are tied in the second set.

Fritz was broken three times in the first set and made sure he didn’t start with another, quickly defeating Sinner to give the American fans some hope.

The start is how you intend to go on, with Sinner taking a dominant 40-0 victory in the first game of the second set.

Fritz simply couldn’t respond to his opponents’ serves and that’s a big statement from the match leader.

Can Fritz respond with a serve next?

Sinner is on cruise control as he takes an early 30-0 lead while Fritz racks up a few faults on his first serves. The punches are then traded and Sinner just won’t let up as he makes Fritz run in every direction possible to put himself in control.

Fritz wins back a point with his second ace of the match and then another when Sinner, perhaps overconfident, tries a cross-court half-volley that only needs a light touch over the net.

He makes no mistake on his next attempt, this time forcing Fritz into a mistake that gives the Italian the first set win in front of an American crowd that had just calmed down a bit.

Great tennis on display, but Sinner’s quality is only just beginning to show. Fritz needs to respond or this could be a quick final.

Both players take a moment to cool down and calm down before starting the next game, in which Fritz scores the first point.

Sinner fights back to make it 15-15 and adds more points when Fritz makes a mistake hitting one of his returns, while we start to have a few more unforced errors.

The world number 1 eventually wins the game as Fritz struggles to stay within the lines and Sinner now has a chance at set point if he can break his opponent’s serve again.

Sinner breaks Fritz just as he did in the opening game of the final, but it’s a display of athleticism from the American who refused to give up and chased every ball.

Sinner seems to have regained his composure and is now close to winning the first set.

Well, we’re just starting to see some uncomfortable plays from Sinner, as with the game tied at 15-15 he ends it with a bizarre shot that goes towards the crowd.

Fritz is making this a real contest, but he can’t hold on and Sinner ends up winning the game with relative ease in the end.

Well, it wouldn’t be a US Open final without some of the world’s biggest celebrities in attendance, and the cameras caught a trio of global stars as Taylor Swift joins Travis Kelce and Patrick Maholmes in the VIP stands.

They’re sure to be treated to some impressive action right from the start!

The pace picks up in the fifth game and we are treated to some absolutely monstrous forehands as both competitors play deep on both sides of the court.

No one seems interested in visiting the net yet in this match and you wonder how long it will be before one of this pair tries to find an advantage with their short game.

Sinner is the first to reach the game point, of which he has only one, but he is unable to overcome Fritz after a frantic exchange of 23 shots in total.

The American is really starting to enjoy this and takes the first advantage on deuce before going on to win at the first time of asking. That’s three wins in a row for Fritz now.

Fritz gets on top of Sinner’s second serve and takes a 15-0 lead, only for the Italian to miss on his next serve. He then recovers to tie.

Fritz looks much calmer now and steps forward to meet a return from Sinner, which the world No. 1 parries into the net and promptly examines his racket.

The American then comes on strong to go 40-15. Sinner pulls a break point back and adds another to take us to deuce for the first time tonight.

The advantage shifts between the two and eventually Fritz comes out on top and breaks Sinner’s serve.

The crowd realises they have a role to play and cheers Fritz on – he duly obliges by aceing his first serve in style. Sinner this time goes wide with his next return and Fritz is only denied a second ace by going a little long with his serve.

He looks in much better form with a strong forehand down the line, leaving Sinner helpless, and wins the game unanswered to finally establish himself in the final.

Both players are hitting the ball very accurately in the early exchanges, but Sinner is a bit better with his accuracy.

Fritz makes two errors while trying to hit long, giving his opponent a 30-0 lead, and Sinner puts himself in a commanding position by forcing the home favorite to run from side to side.

He wins the game with his second pitch of the final changeup and that’s a huge statement of intent from Sinner.

Sinner breaks Fritz’s first serve with a brilliant forehand down the line. The American hits long with his next effort after a brief short rally, but recovers with Sinner hitting the net to make it 30-15.

We have another flurry of shots as Sinner takes control with two break points but is forced to fight for the win, but Fritz misses his volley into the court.

Sinner gets an early break point and leads.

*Shows who is serving in each game

Sinner wins the coin toss, as Fritz incorrectly called heads, and the world number 1 will receive first place at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The two dreamy players leave amid a mix of noise as those in attendance wait to see a new US Open champion crowned.

Most of that noise is understandably around home favourite Taylor Fritz, but there is some Italian support on show for Sinner, who is looking to further build on his world No. 1 status.

The match will start soon and you won’t miss a moment of the action with Mail Sport’s live updates.

Jannik Sinner just spoke before heading out onto the court. He knows the task at hand, beating an American on his own turf, but hopes are high for him.

Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “I feel like every final is different, I’m happy to be here, this is a special occasion. The crowd has been incredible, very fair, playing against an American is not easy but it’s normal in New York.

Five-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova was pictured arriving at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

Sharapova won the US Open once in 2006, when she defeated Justine Henin in straight sets.

She’s expecting a fantastic game of tennis tonight!

If tonight’s clash is anything like the women’s singles final between Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pergula, then we’re in for a surprise.

The Belarusian emerged victorious 7-5, 7-5, defeating the American in what was an intense battle – and securing Sabalenka’s redemption after her defeat in last year’s final.

The home crowd at Flushing Meadows will be hoping for better luck for Fritz tonight.

Mail Sport’s Matt Lambert was in attendance last night and you can read his report on the action below…

And welcome to Mail Sport’s live blog of the US Open final between Taylor Fritz and Jannik Sinner at Flushing Meadows.

It promises to be a fascinating clash tonight, so stay with us for all the updates throughout the match.