Rancho Santa Fe’s Fritz cruises, reminisces about ’15 title run

Taylor Fritz File photo by David Kirouac Icon Sportswire NEW YORK He longed a Grand Slam title more than anything So why shouldn t Taylor Fritz get it The kid from Rancho Sante Fe had perpetually achieved what he d set out to achieve on the tennis court ever since he picked up a racket Now he yearned a Grand Slam He d been close before reaching a final in the previous months but still it was out there This isn t the Taylor Fritz of we re talking about No this was the exact same situation he was looking out a decade ago entering the U S Open Then as now Fritz was a threat to win his first major albeit a Juniors one possessing a high seed in the draw he was the No seed in the No seed this year Then as now he d been agonizingly near to it losing a final to buddy Tommy Paul at Roland Garros in May just like he lost a final to Jannik Sinner at the U S Open last September It had to happen now And it did Fritz grabbed the U S Open Boys title in the last Slam he was eligible to play age-wise and did it over the fellow American who beat him a scant months earlier Tommy Paul Sunday after he dispatched No seed Tomas Machac in a dominant straight-sets performance - - - Fritz reflected on achieving his dream years ago I think it was one of the first times I put so much pressure on myself because when you re playing the juniors there is like a timer on it You can only play for so long I requested to win a junior slam so bad Fritz explained I lost the finals of French Open I lost the semis at Wimbledon I feel like I put so much pressure on myself that week because I needed that title so so bad Two years after winning the CIF title at Torrey Pines High School as a freshman Fritz got that title gaining various revenge over Paul his good friend and now fellow member of the ATP Tour world Top rankings In the end that made it even more special that I was able to come through and win the tournament Fritz disclosed of the self-imposed pressure of I still think regardless of what else happens in my career that will consistently still be like one of the happiest moments I d say for me for sure It was such a big deal It remains to be seen if Fritz can make magic happen again here at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center a decade later but if he plays like he did in the twilight of Sunday afternoon he ll have a shot Fritz had no trouble with Machac dominating on serve and giving the fans on Louis Armstrong Stadium a nice breather after the drama-filled match that preceded him Taylor Townsend s thriller against Barbora Krejickova I thought it was definitely the best match I have played so far this tournament Fritz noted He made certain mistakes at I guess good times for me but you know it was a really good mix between me being consistent and me pulling the trigger being aggressive Fritz now has reached the quarterfinals at his home Slam for the third straight time and now gets to play Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals majority of likely on Tuesday evening Djokovic has beaten Fritz all times they ve played I think the first almost like seven or eight times I played him I presumably just wasn t a good-enough player to really have that much of a chance unless I have the best day ever and he has a bad day Fritz explained I think only the last couple times we ve played I think I ve been this just better member that can you know I d say compete and have chances You know I don t look at it like I don t know I don t look at it like he s more vulnerable than before Fritz added I look at it as the same but I also look it that I ve improved a lot as a competitor