For the second consecutive year, Taylor Fritz has made it to the quarterfinals of the US Open.
Despite dropping the first set to Casper Ruud, Fritz, seeded 12th, came back strong to win the next three sets and secure a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 victory at Louis Armstrong Stadium on Sunday.
This win was particularly satisfying for Fritz as it avenged his loss to Ruud at the French Open earlier in the year. Fritz mentioned that he was dealing with an injury during their previous encounter but felt confident about winning on the hardcourt surface at the US Open.
Fritz’s resilience and determination were on full display as he fought back after losing the first set. He utilized his powerful serve and forehand to overpower Ruud and clinch the victory.
“I just had to stay in it because I felt like he outplayed me in the first set. I had some chances, he had some chances and he took them,” said Fritz in his post-match interview.
“He was playing well and I did a really good job to fight at the start of the second to get through some tight service games and apply some scoreboard pressure,” he added. “I feel his level then maybe dropped a little bit. I was getting more looks on second serves and I could just get through it from there.”
The support from the enthusiastic crowd also played a crucial role in boosting Fritz’s morale as he dominated Ruud in the later sets. The last American man to win the US Open was Andy Roddick in 2003.
Looking ahead, Fritz remains focused on taking it one match at a time and not getting ahead of himself. Despite his past disappointments, he is determined to make the most of this opportunity and is prepared to face the challenges that lie ahead.
This year, Fritz has shown impressive performance in Grand Slam tournaments, reaching the quarterfinals in the Australian Open and Wimbledon as well. His upcoming match against either Brandon Nakashima or Alexander Zverev presents another opportunity for Fritz to showcase his skills and potentially make it to his first Grand Slam semifinal.