“I have a feeling I’m going to come out and win”: Taylor Fritz aims to break 20-year American drought in US Open final

Taylor Fritz will face the US Open final with the conviction of defeating Jannik Sinner. The American hopes to break a 20-year streak without a home champion in the men's draw, though he will have to overcome a tough challenge against the world No. 1.

Despite Sinner being the favorite to win the title, Fritz has shown his strength throughout the tournament, defeating players like Matteo Berrettini, Casper Ruud, Alexander Zverev, and Frances Tiafoe. For the first time, he has the chance to claim a major title.

The American No. 1 will be the first male American to play a Grand Slam final in 15 years, since Andy Roddick in the 2009 Wimbledon final, where he lost to Roger Federer. Fritz hopes to follow in Roddick’s footsteps at Flushing Meadows, where Roddick was the last American to win a Slam, at the 2003 US Open.

Currently ranked world No. 12, Fritz spoke in a press conference about the confidence he feels before facing Sinner: “I’ve always enjoyed playing him. To be honest, I don’t think that I’m going to be put in a more stressful situation than I was today [against Tiafoe] than playing in a final.”

“I think today was much more stressful than me playing the final. I just feel good,” he said. “I have a feeling I’m going to come out and play really well and win. When I play good tennis, I think that level is good enough to win.”

Despite his confidence, Fritz knows he won’t be the favorite in Sunday’s final. He compared his five-set battle with Tiafoe in the semifinals to his upcoming challenge against the 2024 Australian Open champion.

“It was two Americans trying to make it to the final, both of them wanting to be the guy to make it to the final,” he said. “I had a 6-1 head-to-head leading into it. I wasn’t going into this thinking that I am the favourite [in the semi-final] because everything is totally different when you are playing a match.”

“He [Tiafoe] has been playing unbelievable all US Open, he has been playing in the night match slot on Ashe every single match. I was not thinking I was the favourite, but it is tough to go into it,” Taylor Fritz added. “… I mean it’s a stressful situation to be in. It is different from playing against the world No. 1, who you are not going to be the favourite against.”

“I think I have always played well against Jannik. I think we are 1-1, it’s been a while since we played, the last he got me in three [sets] at Indian Wells,” he added. “He just hits the ball big, he is a very strong ball striker, but I have always felt I hit the ball very nice off his ball. I think I typically play well against him.”