"We are 100 percent there to win": Taylor Fritz fires warning shot for opponent teams participating at US Open mixed doubles event

America’s Taylor Fritz has warned opponents that he and his partner Elena Rybakina will be coming to lift the title this year at the US Open’s mixed doubles event. The fourth Grand Slam of the year will begin on August 24 but will be played in a different format.

For the first time, the competition will be played in two parts. The first part will feature some of the world’s best competing in a standalone mixed doubles event, whereas the second part will feature the other categories. In the mixed doubles, one of the teams will feature Fritz, who will partner with Rybakina.

Fritz, who is currently in London to participate in Wimbledon, spoke to the media and warned the opposing teams that he and his partner will be coming to the competition to win the title. Fritz also stated that, in his opinion, he is a ‘mixed doubles specialist’ and believes that his record speaks for itself.

“I would say hey, I think I am a bit of a mixed doubles specialist,” he said. “I am not going to lie. I think my record in mixed doubles is kind of speaks for itself. In the United Cup, I don’t think I lost a mixed match. I think I have won the Indian Wells [mixed doubles] thing twice. I think that for whatever reason, I enjoy playing mixed doubles. It is good for me. I think that we are probably one of the teams to beat. I have to look at the whole list again. But I think I remember saying that Ben [Shelton] and Taylor [Townsend], I think that’s a pretty solid team. I remember Stef [Stefanos Tsitsipas] and Paula [Badosa], I think they were good last year. To be honest, so many good teams and good players but I don’t know, I just randomly, in mixed doubles, do well. [My competitive level will be] Extreme. One hundred percent. I think everyone is going to be like that to be honest. I think everyone really wants to win. Its going to count as a real Grand Slam. The prize money is great. Like we are 100 percent there to win it.”