Jannik Sinner cruises into US Open final weeks after PED controversy

The controversial No. 1 player in the world is all that stands in the way of the American dream to end a 21-year Grand Slam drought.

Arriving at the U.S. Open nearly two weeks ago embroiled in doping allegations, top-ranked Jannik Sinner continued his undistracted march to the finals with a 7-5, 7-6 (3), 6-2 victory Friday over British upstart Jack Draper at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The top-ranked Sinner, who captured the Australian Open title earlier this year for the lone major victory of his career, will face Taylor Fritz for the title Sunday, Fritz emerged from the all-American showdown against Frances Tiafoe with a 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory late Friday.

6 Jannik Sinner is moving on to the U.S. Open final after a win in the semis on Friday. Jason Szenes for New York Post

6 Jack Draper fell in straight sets on Friday. Jason Szenes for New York Post

No U.S.-born male has won a major title since Andy Roddick hoisted the trophy in Flushing Meadows in 2003.

“Happy to be in the final here [for the first time]. It’s a special tournament, so let’s see what’s coming Sunday,” Sinner said. “It’s right, the atmosphere is what’s gonna be. I mean, we are in America, we are in New York playing against an American, so it’s gonna be, for sure, the crowd a little bit more on their side.

“But it’s normal. It’s like when I play in Italy, no, it’s a bit the same. So I’m gonna accept that. I have my team and my people who are close to me. In my mind, I know that there are many people watching from home from Italy, and it’s just take some support from them.”

Sinner, the only player on tour this year to reach at least the quarterfinals in all four majors, remains undeterred despite being docked prize money and rankings points — albeit with no suspension — after testing positive twice in March for trace amounts of the anabolic steroid Clostebol in an eight-day span.

Draper had never advanced past the fourth round of a Grand Slam event before rolling through the quarterfinals without dropping a set (15-0) over the Flushing Meadows fortnight, including a rout of No. 10 seed Alex de Minaur in the quarters.

6 Jack Draper came up just a bit short on Friday. Jason Szenes for New York Post

Draper’s path to Friday’s match through his portion of the draw opened up when No. 2 seed Carlos Alcaraz was bounced in the second round.

The No. 25 seed easily dispatched Botic van de Zandschulp, who had ousted the 2022 Open champion, followed by a straight-sets win over Tomas Machac.

The 22-year-old Draper has been anointed as Britain’s new tennis hope, as the heir apparent after Andy Murray’s retirement earlier this summer.

6 Jannik Sinner celebrates his U.S. Open semifinal win. Jason Szenes for New York Post

6 Jack Draper cleans up his vomit on the court on Friday. Jason Szenes for New York Post

No British man had reached a Grand Slam semifinal since Murray at the 2017 French Open.

The players held serve for the first six games of the opening set before exchanging breaks in the next two games to get to 4-4.

At 5-5, however, Draper double-faulted three times, including one on break point, before Sinner served out the opening stanza for the Brit’s first dropped set in six matches this year in Queens.

6 Jannik Sinner has his hand checked out during Friday’s match. Jason Szenes for New York Post

Each player won his six service games in the second, but Sinner pulled it out in the tiebreaker to grab a 2-0 lead before closing out the straight-sets victory in the third.

Notably, Sinner was treated for an apparent left-wrist injury during the second set, but Draper was visibly dealing with nausea — which he attributed to the humidity — and vomited multiple times during the match.

“I’m not retiring [from the match] in the semis of a Grand Slam. I tried,” Draper said. “Jannik plays at such a high level. I had chances here and there and I didn’t take them. … He beat me fair and square. He was too strong for me today.”

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