Taylor Fritz can end a Grand Slam drought for American men by beating Jannik Sinner at the US Open

NEW YORK (AP) — Taylor Fritz bought choked up when it hit him that he had reached the U.S. Open ultimate.

His clarification: “I cry at glad endings of films and never at unhappy stuff. That’s sort of simply how I’m.”

Think about what the 26-year-old Californian’s response could be if he truly have been to take house the trophy by beating No. 1 Jannik Sinner of Italy on Sunday in Arthur Ashe Stadium. That will make Fritz the primary American man to gather a Grand Slam title in 21 years.

“I’ve a sense I’m going to return out and play very well and win,” the Twelfth-seeded Fritz mentioned Friday evening after coming again to get previous one other American, Frances Tiafoe, in 5 units to succeed in a serious ultimate for the primary time. “After I play good tennis, I believe that degree is sweet sufficient to win.”

How massive a deal is it that Fritz will even be competing at Flushing Meadows on the final weekend of the match?

The final time a U.S. man performed in any main ultimate was in 2009, when Andy Roddick misplaced to Roger Federer at Wimbledon. The final time a U.S. man performed within the U.S. Open ultimate was 2006, when Roddick could not get previous — sure, after all — Federer. The final time a U.S. man did handle to win a Slam was in 2003, when Roddick defeated Juan Carlos Ferrero.

“I’d love nothing extra,” Roddick mentioned on his podcast, “than for an American to win on Sunday. … I get this anxious feeling each time they must reply for it.”

It’s, certainly, fairly a drought for a rustic that produced so many champions via the many years.

A son of two ex-pros — his mom, Kathy Could, was ranked within the prime 10 and reached the quarterfinals on the U.S. Open and the French Open — Fritz first picked up a racket at age 2. Tiafoe, a very good pal who’s identified Fritz since they have been 12 or 13, mentioned the adjustments since which might be outstanding.

“After I first met him, Taylor was an odd cat, totally different cat. I imply, I positively wasn’t pondering he was going to do what he’s executed,” Tiafoe mentioned. “He’s modified his physique unbelievably. He is simply actually proficient. He was a part-time participant; he performed couple occasions of week; had a court docket at his home. He’ll let you know, he went to a standard highschool. He was only a regular child, whereas we’re on the market grinding. Then he began placing extra time into it.”

Armed with a terrific serve and forehand, and dealing to enhance different points of his sport, Fritz mentioned he likes the matchup towards Sinner. They’ve cut up two earlier conferences.

“I really feel like I all the time hit the ball very nice off of his ball,” Fritz mentioned. “I usually play properly towards him.”

Fritz has been the highest male tennis participant from the U.S. for a bit, getting as excessive as No. 5 within the rankings final yr. However he hadn’t been in a position to get previous the quarterfinals at a serious till now.

“Generally you come into tournaments and also you’re, ‘Oh, quarterfinals is a good consequence,’ which it’s, however on the finish of the day,” mentioned Fritz coach, Michael Russell, “you present up at tournaments to win tournaments. Simpler mentioned than executed.”

On this occasion, Sinner is a considerable favourite — he’s listed at -350 money-line odds, based on BetMGM Sportsbook — on account of his rating, his Australian Open championship in January and his 34-2 file on arduous courts in 2024 (Fritz is 19-7). Sinner’s on-court efficiency doesn’t seem to have been affected a lot by having his doping case made public lower than every week earlier than the U.S. Open started; he was cleared after it was decided his two optimistic checks for an anabolic steroid resulted from unintentional publicity to the banned substance.

“He is so constant. His depth. His ball velocity. He’s barely bought any weaknesses,” No. 25 Jack Draper mentioned about Sinner after dropping to him within the semifinals. “And he’s simply in a position to be there, level by level, and lift his degree when he must.”

Pressed by a reporter to call one thing — something — about Sinner that is flawed, Draper joked: “What’s one weak spot? He doesn’t have many, mate. One? Don’t know. Perhaps he’s too good.”

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Howard Fendrich has been the AP’s tennis author since 2002. Discover his tales right here: https://apnews.com/writer/howard-fendrich

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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Howard Fendrich, The Related Press