Taylor Fritz received a warm round of applause after defeating Casper Ruud in the fourth round of the 2024 U.S. Open. For the second year in a row, Fritz has secured a spot in the quarterfinals.
After losing the first set to the eighth-seeded Ruud, Fritz, the 12th seed, made a strong comeback, winning three consecutive sets to claim a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 victory at Louis Armstrong Stadium on Sunday.
This win allowed Fritz to avenge a previous four-set defeat against Ruud at the French Open earlier this year, a match in which Fritz cited an injury as a factor. Reflecting on their rematch, Fritz expressed confidence in his ability to win, particularly on hard court.
Despite dropping the first set, Fritz remained focused and determined to improve his performance. He ultimately dominated Ruud with his powerful serve and forehand.
“I just had to stay in it because I felt like he outplayed me in the first set. I had some chances, he had some chances, and he took them,” Fritz said in a post-match interview. “It became crucial to fight at the start of the second set to get through some tough service games and apply pressure.”
Fritz noted that the supportive crowd energized him, particularly as he began to take control in the match. Since Andy Roddick’s victory in 2003, no American man has won the U.S. Open.
When discussing his outlook for the tournament, Fritz said, “I’m taking it one match at a time. I came into the tournament in 2022 saying I think I could win it, and I lost in the first round! It’s better to focus on one match at a time.”
In 2022, Fritz lost in the first round to qualifier Brandon Holt. This year, he has reached the quarterfinals in three Grand Slam tournaments, including the Australian Open and Wimbledon. He is set to face the winner of the match between fellow American Brandon Nakashima and No. 4 seed Alexander Zverev on Tuesday. A win would mark his first trip to a Grand Slam semifinal.