Taylor Fritz is poised to break a long-standing drought for American men in tennis. No American man has won a Grand Slam singles title since Andy Roddick’s 2003 US Open triumph, but Fritz now has the chance to change that narrative.
On Friday, Fritz battled through adversity, overcoming a two-sets-to-one deficit to defeat fellow American Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, earning his spot in the US Open final for the first time in his career.
The 12th-seeded Fritz will face world number one Jannik Sinner in Sunday’s championship match. Sinner advanced to his first-ever US Open final by defeating British player Jack Draper in straight sets, 7-5, 7-6 (3), 6-2.
Fritz was ecstatic following his hard-fought win. “This is why I do it, why I put in the hard work,” he said. “I’ve made it to the US Open final, and that’s what I’ve always worked toward.”
The presence of Andy Roddick at Arthur Ashe Stadium was a significant moment. Roddick remains the last American man to reach a Grand Slam final (2009 Wimbledon) and the last to reach a US Open final, in 2006. Fritz is now the first American to follow in his footsteps.
Meanwhile, 23-year-old Sinner, who is currently on a 10-match winning streak, is aiming for his second Grand Slam title after winning the Australian Open in January. Sinner also made history by becoming the first Italian man to ever reach a US Open final.
In their head-to-head rivalry, Fritz and Sinner are tied 1-1, setting up a compelling final.
Fritz acknowledged the significance of the upcoming match but believes he can handle the pressure. “I’ll come out and give it everything I have. To be honest, I don’t think the pressure in the final will be more intense than it was today against Frances. Today was a lot more nerve-racking.”
Fritz has a dominant 7-1 record over Tiafoe, but Tiafoe was disappointed with the result. “It’s tough to swallow,” he admitted. “I was just too tight tonight, and it hurts.”
This semifinal marked the first all-American men’s singles matchup at the US Open since Andre Agassi defeated Robby Ginepri in 2005.
Born in California, Fritz comes from a tennis family. His mother, Kathy May Fritz, was a former WTA player who reached a career-high ranking of No. 10 in 1977, while his father, Guy Fritz, was a tennis coach.
Looking ahead to the final, Fritz expressed confidence. “I’ve always enjoyed playing against Jannik. Honestly, the pressure today was bigger than what I’ll feel in the final. I just have a good feeling that I’ll play well and win the match. When I’m at my best, I believe I can win it all.”
