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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 reliable 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 mainly, so it might imply all the things to me,” he instructed CBS Sports activities.
Roddick gained the 2003 US Open after Andre Agassi captured the Australian Open months earlier. That grew to become the stunning finish of a 15-year streak by which American males gained a minimum of one leg of the Grand Slam per 12 months since 1988. The 21-year drought since has been a tricky tablet to swallow for followers in the USA.
Outdoors 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 courtroom, he’s a severe 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 might 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 outcome may very well be flipped this time round.
“Truthfully, I believe I am going to do precisely what I used to be doing on the French Open,” he stated. “I had an damage I used to be enjoying by means of many of the French Open, and it actually flared up, like unhealthy, within the third set of that match. I completed the match, however I do not know why I did. I most likely ought to’ve simply pulled out of the match.
“Up till that, it was it was fairly even. I preferred the way in which I used to be enjoying loads and I believe enjoying precisely like that on a sooner floor, on hardcourt, is gonna give me a fair higher likelihood.”
Fritz made the US Open quarterfinals final 12 months, however he has by no means made a deeper run in a significant event. 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 event is unseeded Brandon Nakashima, who already took care of two prime 20 opponents at Flushing Meadows and has a date with Zverev on Sunday. Fritz is aware of first hand that Nakashima will not be one to take calmly 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 quite a lot of matches, gaining quite a 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 remaining 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 the way to work a crowd and use that vitality to their benefit, it’s positively Tiafoe.
“Frances is an efficient participant generally, however … he actually likes enjoying right here, and as soon as he kinda will get going, he performs very well.” Fritz stated. “He sort of carries that momentum and the vitality from the group, the second. Simply being on the US Open, that is one factor that Frances does so properly; he’s a giant event participant. When he is actually pumped up and he actually needs 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 may need the largest problem arising as he’s scheduled to tackle Sinner throughout Monday’s spherical of 16. Fritz is greatest buddies 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 time.
“The place he is actually improved loads through the years is simply being very skilled and targeted,” Fritz stated. “Identical to being on it, being very constantly good. I at all times knew how good he was; he’s simply sort of doing it week in, week out now. On the courtroom, he’s extremely quick, involves the web very well, and simply the remainder of his sport could be very well-rounded. He would not actually have any weaknesses. He is acquired a great serve and he’s only a nice athlete.”
