"My aunt is not feeling well health-wise and I don't know how much longer I have her in my life," he said.

He is 23-years-old and Alcaraz just 21. They ended up sharing the year’s Grand Slam titles, and - with an eye to the future - that is an ominous thought for the rest of the world.

"I know we have been waiting for a champion for a long time so I'm sorry I couldn't get it done this time," said Fritz.

Sinner said the title "meant so much because the last period of my career was not easy" before he became tearful and dedicated the victory to his aunt.

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He subsequently parted ways with the physio and his fitness trainer - but questions continued about whether Sinner's case had been handled differently to those of other players because of his world number one status.

It marks a new era of tennis as 24-time major winner Novak Djokovic, who was knocked out in the third round, ends the year without a Grand Slam title for the first time since 2017.

A mediados de semanada ya calentaron el ambiente con el despliegue por una gigantesca lona en Madrid, donde podía apreciarse la silueta do un jugador encapuchado. El secreto ha sido desvelado y, 米兰体育投注网站 sin duda, pelo ha dejado a los aficionados indiferentes.

Just six days before the main draw got under way, it was announced he had twice tested positive for low levels of a metabolite of clostebol - a steroid that can be used to build muscle mass - in March.

It comes just 19 days after it was revealed he had been cleared of any wrongdoing after twice testing positive for a banned substance in March.

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It has been nearly 50 years since a man won their first and second Grand Slam titles in the same season, and Sinner is now a long way clear of the rest at the top of the rankings.

Having failed to make the most of three break point opportunities early in the third set, Fritz brought the crowd to life with two brilliant winners to break for a 4-3 lead and keep alive his hopes.

Cheered on by a home crowd packed with celebrities and sporting stars, Fritz got off to a shaky start when he dropped serve in the first game.