No American man has gained a tennis Grand Slam since Andy Roddick, 21 years in the past, however the 2024 US Open is wanting like a respectable alternative to finish that drought. Because the highest-seeded American man within the discipline this 12 months, Taylor Fritz is locked in.
“If it is me who ends it, then that is like my life’s dream principally, so it will imply all the pieces to me,” he instructed CBS Sports activities.
Roddick gained the 2003 US Open after Andre Agassi captured the Australian Open months earlier. That turned the shocking finish of a 15-year streak wherein American males gained at the very least one leg of the Grand Slam per 12 months since 1988. The 21-year drought since has been a troublesome capsule to swallow for followers in the US.
Exterior of tennis, Fritz has some relatable hobbies. He’s an avid gamer, a Chipotle aficionado and a spicy margarita lover — even creating his personal recipe as a part of a partnership with Maestro Dobel Tequila. Nonetheless, on the court docket, he’s a critical competitor who has quietly been on the rise.
Fritz noticed his highest rating ever at No. 5 on Feb. 27, 2023. He entered the US Open because the No. 12 seed and gained his first three rounds in straight units.
His subsequent opponent will likely be No. 8 seed Casper Ruud throughout Sunday’s spherical of 16.
Ruud beat Fritz 7-6 (8-6), 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 within the fourth spherical of the French Open earlier this 12 months. Nonetheless, Fritz stated he was enjoying injured and feels the end result might be flipped this time round.
“Truthfully, I believe I will do precisely what I used to be doing on the French Open,” he stated. “I had an damage I used to be enjoying via many of the French Open, and it actually flared up, like dangerous, within the third set of that match. I completed the match, however I do not know why I did. I in all probability ought to’ve simply pulled out of the match.
“Up till that, it was fairly even. I appreciated the way in which I used to be enjoying quite a bit and I believe enjoying precisely like that on a sooner floor, on hardcourt, is gonna give me a fair higher probability.”
Fritz made the US Open quarterfinals final 12 months, however he has by no means made a deeper run in a significant match. The competitors at this 12 months’s US Open appears a bit extra open after world No. 2 Novak Djokovic and No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz acquired upset within the third spherical. Nonetheless, there are nonetheless another favorites within the discipline, together with No. 1 Jannik Sinner, No. 4 Alexander Zverev and No. 5 Daniil Medvedev — final 12 months’s runner up.
Whereas Fritz is the highest-seeded American, he is aware of his fellow countrymen are equally able to pulling off a victory.
One of many darkish horses of this 12 months’s match is unseeded Brandon Nakashima, who already took care of two high 20 opponents at Flushing Meadows and has a date with Zverev on Sunday. Fritz is aware of firsthand that Nakashima shouldn’t be one to take frivolously as he misplaced to him within the spherical of 64 on the Cincinnati Open on Aug. 13.
“He is a very good participant. I believe he had some setbacks within the final 12 months or two,” Fritz stated. “I believe all this 12 months he is been constructing himself again and profitable a whole lot of matches, gaining a whole lot of confidence. He is a very good participant.”
One other participant who arrived to New York with a lot of momentum is No. 20 Frances Tiafoe, who reached his first ever closing at an ATP Masters 1000 occasion in Cincinnati. He earned his ticket to the spherical of 16 after an thrilling win in a five-set battle against fellow American Ben Shelton, a semifinalist final 12 months.
If anyone is aware of tips on how to work a crowd and use that power to their benefit, it’s positively Tiafoe.
“Frances is an efficient participant usually, however … he actually likes enjoying right here, and as soon as he kinda will get going, he performs rather well.” Fritz stated. “He type of carries that momentum and the power from the gang, the second. Simply being on the US Open, that is one factor that Frances does so properly; he’s a giant match participant. When he is actually pumped up and he actually desires it, he is tremendous locked in and that is when he performs his greatest tennis.”
Tiafoe will face No. 28 Alexei Popyrin on Sunday. They’ve by no means performed earlier than, however the Aussie has confirmed to be a harmful opponent as he’s the one who stunned Djokovic on Friday night.
In the meantime, Tommy Paul might need the most important problem arising as he’s scheduled to tackle Sinner throughout Monday’s spherical of 16. Fritz is greatest mates with Paul and is aware of his sport properly as they gained a bronze medal in doubles on the 2024 Paris Olympics earlier this summer season.
“The place he is actually improved quite a bit over time is simply being very skilled and targeted,” Fritz stated. “Identical to being on it, being very constantly good. I all the time knew how good he was; he’s simply type of doing it week in, week out now. On the court docket, he’s extremely quick, involves the online rather well, and simply the remainder of his sport may be very well-rounded. He would not actually have any weaknesses. He is acquired a superb serve and he’s only a nice athlete.”
