NEW YORK:
Taylor Fritz overcame a slow start to defeat eighth seed Casper Ruud 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 on Sunday, advancing to the US Open quarter-finals for the second consecutive year. Ruud initially took control, breaking for a 5-3 lead and securing the first set with a flawless service game.
However, Fritz began to challenge Ruud’s serve in the second set and managed to break when the Norwegian double-faulted on set point, levelling the match. Despite changing into dry clothes and shoes before the third set, Ruud struggled to regain his earlier form. A poor service game saw him fall 2-0 behind in the third, and Fritz closed out the set with an ace.
In the fourth set, Fritz maintained his momentum, finishing the match with his 24th ace to set up a quarter-final against German fourth seed Alexander Zverev. Reflecting on the match, Fritz admitted that Ruud outplayed him in the first set but credited his own perseverance for turning the match around.
This victory marked Fritz’s first win in three meetings against Ruud, who had previously defeated him at the 2022 ATP Finals and the French Open earlier this year. Fritz, however, did not dwell on their head-to-head record, noting that their previous encounters were close and that Ruud is strong on clay.
Last year, Fritz reached the quarter-finals but lost in straight sets to eventual champion Novak Djokovic. This time, with Djokovic and third seed Carlos Alcaraz out of the draw, Fritz is cautious about looking too far ahead, having learned from past experiences. He emphasised the importance of focusing on one match at a time, recalling his early exit in 2022 after entering the tournament with high expectations.
Meanwhile, American Brandon Nakashima was eliminated by Zverev, who won 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2. Zverev served 14 aces and hit 51 winners to reach the quarter-finals in New York for the fourth consecutive year. The German, aiming for his first Grand Slam title after coming close in 2020, is preparing for a “tough battle” against Fritz, whom he lost to in a five-set match at Wimbledon in July.