One win away from his second consecutive journey to the semifinals on the US Open, Taylor Fritz should make historical past Tuesday night time to get there — no strain towards all-time nice Novak Djokovic.
The final remaining American on the boys’s aspect after Francis Tiafoe’s beautiful third-round loss and Ben Shelton’s unlucky harm withdrawal, Fritz takes one other flip towards the 24-time grand slam champion he is by no means overwhelmed in his profession throughout 10 matches.
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“It may be a great factor for me. Hopefully, the gang is absolutely going to get behind me now as a result of I am the final man,” Fritz stated this week forward of his match with Djokovic. “Yeah, it is stunning. I believe it is simply been a tough week for the fellows. … I am completely happy to be right here, and hopefully, if the gang can get behind me, we are able to do that.”
Djokovic has solely dropped three units — complete — towards Fritz, overpowering him with a bevy of winners whereas having no hassle breaking serve. That is the third time Djokovic and Fritz have met in a serious, the final coming within the quarterfinals of the 2023 US Open.
“The primary seven or eight instances I performed him, I simply wasn’t a adequate participant to actually have a lot of an opportunity until I’ve one of the best day ever and he has a foul day,” Fritz stated. “Solely the final couple instances we have performed, I have been a greater participant that may, I would say, compete and have possibilities. Final time we performed in Shanghai, I had appears. I had set factors within the second set. I actually ought to’ve most likely received the second, taken it to a 3rd set.”
Drawing from his 6-4, 7-6 loss to Djokovic final yr on the ATP Masters 1000, there have been key moments within the second-set tiebreaker that Fritz may’ve received, however the Serbian was extra exact. Djokovic has dropped two units in New York throughout this event, each coming in tiebreaking vogue.
Fritz’s path to an upset
At his greatest, Fritz dominates on serve and makes use of opportunistic method when making an attempt to interrupt. Whether or not it is taken an opportunity on a backhand winner down the road or extending factors with slice to attempt to tire Djokovic, the important thing for Fritz and his workforce can be sticking to the sport plan and never being overwhelmed agains one of many world’s all-time greatest.
Utilizing a mixture of artful returns and lobs to attempt to preserve Djokovic from discovering a rhythm together with making him attain are areas Fritz may doubtlessly exploit. Djokovic wants three extra wins to grab his fifth US Open title, which might be his crown jewel twenty fifth grand slam.
“In the latest matches we have had, there’s been appears. I simply have not been in a position to make it occur within the vital moments of these matches,” Fritz stated. “That is what makes one of the best guys one of the best guys. They don’t seem to be going to offer it to you in these moments. It’s a must to go and take it.”
