Taylor Fritz is hoping the home crowd will urge him to post another incredible result at a big tournament as the American number one advanced at the US Open.
It was a nervy opening round for the fourth seed but Fritz defeated compatriot Emilio Nava 7-5 6-2 6-3 on Louis Armstrong Stadium.
First rounds are never easy for Fritz but this one was in particular difficult given Nava’s style of play and Fritz was open about that after the match, “Yeah, I mean, it’s not, I guess, fun to play — also, a dangerous player in the first round. Big serve, hitting the ball huge, tough to break,” Fritz said in his post-match press conference.
“It’s a match where I don’t actually get to, I guess, control or do a lot of the things. He’s gonna be the first one attacking and getting a lot of free points on the serve. No, I mean, it’s just first round of the Open.
“Most slams in general, it’s just first round you come out, it’s a little nervy and you kind of just get over the hump of the first set and then I can relax a bit and just play a bit better through the match. I’m just happy to get through that tight first set.”
Relief for Fritz who has huge expectations on his shoulders after reaching his first Grand Slam final of his career at last year’s US Open.
The world number four is capable of going deep at Grand Slams but is hoping New York will be the scene of his big breakthrough.
Reflecting on his past successes at Indian Wells, the US Open and the ATP Finals, Fritz spoke about elevating his level in the big moments, “Yeah, for me, it’s not necessarily about the results. It’s about how I feel like I’m, I guess, playing,” Fritz explained.
“You know, I would take more confidence from, I guess, my run on the grass courts this year than maybe the US Open last year, because I felt like I was playing a higher level, in my opinion, during the whole grass swing this year than maybe when I made the run here. At the same time, I take a lot of confidence from the run here, because I can have a result where I make it that deep in a slam feeling like I’m not playing incredible, I’m playing well but not, you know, as well as I know I can be playing.
“So, you know, I’d say, like, end of last year, World Tour Finals, was huge. I thought I was playing some of my absolute best tennis then. And then, yeah, at Wimbledon this year, Indian Wells that year, I think I judge it more off of how I feel I’m hitting the ball in practice and playing, not so much off of the results, I guess.”
The American will be hoping his performances can continue on the current projection as he aims to defend the final points he won last year.
If playing for Grand Slam glory isn’t enough motivation then the home crowd certainly will boost Fritz’s chances of success this year, “It’s definitely never going to be a problem feeling really excited, pumped up, motivated on the court with the crowd getting behind you,” Fritz stated.
“I think it also adds a layer of pressure to it as well that I’m playing my home slam and I obviously want to have a good result. But yeah, it’s great to have just the crowd behind you, for sure.”
Fritz will now face either Sebastian Baez or Lloyd Harris on Wednesday in the second round.
