Jannik Sinner claimed he is “relaxed” about his left wrist injury before playing his first US Open final on Sunday. The world No.1 needed treatment after falling in the second set during his semi-final win over Jack Draper.

The Australian Open still won 7-5 7-6 6-2 and now has the chance to win both hardcourt Grand Slam titles this season. He will face the winner of the all-American semi-final between Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe.

And the Italian, who hits a double-handed backhand, insisted he had no concerns about being fit for the final.

“The physio loosened it up very fast on court, so after I felt okay in the beginning,” Sinner said. “Then after it went away by playing, which is good.

“Let’s see how it is tomorrow when it’s cold. It’s gonna be a different feeling. Hopefully it is nothing to be concerned about.

“I’m quite relaxed, because if it’s something bad, you feel it, straightaway a bit more. Yeah, let’s see how it is.”

The Cincinnati Masters winner has reached the final after news of his positive drug test in March – and his exoneration – were announced just before the last Grand Slam of the season.

“We went just day by day, really, with not so many expectations,” said Sinner. “Trying to find my game, trying to find our rhythm.

“I started off the first day losing the first set, I was set and a break down in that one. Just trying to find confidence throughout the days. We practised very hard in the days in between, you know, trying to prepare each match in the best possible way. I’m happy to be in the final here. It’s a special tournament, so let’s see what’s coming Sunday.”

Sinner and Draper are close friends – they embraced warmly at the net at the end – and the Italian predicted “more battles in the future” and had sympathy for his opponent’s physical struggles. The British No.1 threw up three times on the court. 

The world No.1 said: “It was a tough match. Physical match. Playing against Jack, it’s never easy. He served very well so I am happy to win this one.

“We have a good friendship. We know each other quite well. Obviously it’s tough for him, for sure. Semis are a bit different to play, and in Grand Slams, finals are a bit different. You feel a lot of tension. It’s a bit different.

“But it was nice to share the court with him. Hopefully we have some more battles in the future, which I’m quite sure about that. You know, he’s made his breakthrough this week a little bit, playing some amazing tennis, serving very well.

“Physically he has improved a lot. So he’s gonna be very tough to beat in the future, for sure. I’m happy for him. Talking about today, it was very physical, the first two sets.

“I also felt that physically it was very tough, so I tried to stay there in the third set which then brought me, you know, to finish it off in three.”