Taylor Fritz, the American hopeful at the US Open 2024, experienced a bittersweet end to his deepest major run. He reached the final, a milestone he hadn’t achieved before, but fell short against the top seed, Jannik Sinner. Despite the accomplishment, Fritz felt a heavy weight of disappointment, particularly for the American fans who were eagerly hoping for an end to the long drought of US men’s Grand Slam champions. The last American man to lift a major trophy was Andy Roddick in 2003, and the atmosphere at Arthur Ashe Stadium was electric as fans roared their support for the 12th-seeded Fritz. However, Sinner’s relentless play proved too strong, ending Fritz’s hopes in straight sets.
Fritz, reflecting on his performance in a post-match press conference, expressed his frustration: “Right now I’m pretty just disappointed in … just a lot of things on the court, how I played, how I hit certain shots. It sucks.” He acknowledged the collective longing of American fans for a men’s champion, adding, “American fans, been wanting a men’s champion for a long time, and I just, I don’t know, I’m pretty upset with how I played. I feel like, I don’t know, I feel like I almost let a lot of people down.”
Despite the defeat, Fritz’s journey at the US Open was undeniably impressive. He overcame two top-10 opponents, Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev, both former finalists, to reach his first major semifinal. He even triumphed over his fellow American, Frances Tiafoe, showcasing his determination and resilience.
While the loss brought disappointment, Fritz recognizes the significant progress he made at Flushing Meadows. “There’s obviously a lot of positives, and when I get some time to, like, cool down, you know, then I’ll be happy about the fact that I made it to the final,” he said. This deep run propelled him back into the top 10 rankings, and he is now set to join his American teammates for the Laver Cup.
Reflecting on the culmination of his journey, Fritz shared, “Hearing the crowd go crazy and just kind of, like, soaking in the moment. Like, I’m walking out to play my match on Ashe in the US Open final (it) is what I dreamed about my whole life. It almost got me emotional, but I was just really happy and ready to enjoy the moment.”
While the disappointment of the loss lingers, Taylor Fritz leaves New York with a sense of achievement and a taste of the dream he has been pursuing. His performance, though ultimately overshadowed by the defeat, serves as a testament to his growth and potential, fueling his ambitions for future success on the grand stage.
