Taylor Fritz keeps flag flying for American men at US Open

“I’m happy to be here and hopefully, like I said, if the crowd can get behind me, we can do this.”

Fritz has reached the last eight in New York three years running now.

He lost to Jannik Sinner in the final in 2024, but the odds are stacked against the fourth seed repeating that run.

Fritz will play Novak Djokovic on Tuesday, having lost all 10 of their past meetings including the quarter-finals of the 2023 US Open when the Serbian won the last of his 24 Grand Slam titles.

“I think the first, almost like seven or eight times I played him, I probably just wasn’t a good enough player to really have that much of a chance,” said Fritz.

“I think only the last couple times we’ve played I think I’ve been this just better player that can, you know, I’d say compete and have chances.

“That’s what makes the best guys the best guys. They’re not going to give it to you in those moments. You have to go and take it.”