Taylor Fritz has explained what his biggest focus will be ahead of the US Open to give himself the best possible chance of repeating last year’s feat.
After all, the American really flew the flag for his home nation alongside Jessica Pegula, both of whom stormed into the final, but were subsequently beaten by the unstoppable Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka.
It marked two really impressive runs, and Fritz should certainly feel confident about his ability to mimic that performance.
However, to ensure he has the best possible chance, how he prepares ahead of the final Grand Slam of the year will be crucial.
Taylor Fritz on what he’s focusing on ahead of the US Open
Taylor Fritz has kickstarted his US hard-court swing with a return to DC, before trips to Toronto and Cincinnati will round off his preparation.
Having breezed through his opening round in the Washington Open, beating Aleksandar Vukic comprehensively, he admitted he was loving being back in America on this surface.
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He stated: “Yeah, it’s great because it’s obviously one of my favourite, if not my favourite stretch of the year, where we get to play hard court US tennis. It’s really good. I’m excited to carry this momentum on.”
Then asked about the US Open, he continued: “I think the big part is going to be just the matches, the conditioning. This upcoming stretch is the most physically demanding of the season. You’re playing really intense, it’s so different to playing on grass. So, getting a lot of matches in, competing hard and getting my game ready for the US Open.”
Taylor Fritz has a shot at another run for the US Open title
Having reached the final last year in dramatic fashion, in what remains his best-ever run at any Grand Slam event, Fritz has plenty of points to defend upon his return to New York.
However, he equally has just as good a chance of repeating that feat, given how rock-solid his form has been almost all year.
The strides the 26-year-old has made both in his consistency and shot-making are really impressive, and have therefore made him a very tangible threat against almost anyone on tour.
Even Carlos Alcaraz was given a very tough match in the Wimbledon semi-finals, with only his very best enough to defeat the American.
Before that clash, Fritz stated who he found harder to play out of Alcaraz and Sinner. It seems like an impossible task to beat either of them at the moment.
Now, moving onto his favoured hard courts in his home country, Fritz becomes even more dangerous.
Sinner will be the obvious outstanding favourite to retain his US Open crown, but his fellow finalist cannot be far behind in terms of his likelihood to win his maiden major title.