Taylor Fritz is optimistic about his upcoming U.S. Open final against Jannik Sinner, expressing that he expects the match will be less stressful than his semi-final clash with fellow American Frances Tiafoe. As the world number 12 and the highest-ranked American player, Fritz triumphed over Tiafoe with a score of 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, advancing him towards potentially ending the United States’ 21-year wait for a male Grand Slam champion.
Fritz has become the first American man to reach a Grand Slam final since Andy Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009 and is eager to seize this opportunity. He shared his confidence with reporters, stating, “I’ve always enjoyed playing him (Sinner). To be honest, I don’t think I’m going to be put in a more stressful situation than I was today… I have a feeling I’m going to come out and play really well and win.”
Sinner reached the final after defeating a struggling Jack Draper with a score of 7-5, 7-6(3), 6-2, setting the stage for a highly anticipated matchup between the two players. Fritz, who leads a 6-1 series against Tiafoe, indicated he does not consider himself the favorite in this final. He noted, “I’m not going into this thinking I’m the favourite because everything’s totally different when you’re playing a match like this.” He also acknowledged Tiafoe’s impressive performance throughout the tournament.
Fritz’s previous encounter with Sinner, during the quarter-finals of Indian Wells last year, ended in a straight-sets loss for him. He anticipates a significant challenge from Sinner, who recently captured his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open earlier this year. Describing Sinner’s powerful playstyle, Fritz remarked, “He strikes, he hits the ball big, he’s like a very strong ball striker, but I feel like I always hit the ball really nice off of his ball. I think I typically play well against him.”