WHAT HAPPENED: No. 12 seed American Taylor Fritz hadn’t dropped a set going into his Round 4 showdown against 2022 US Open runner-up Casper Ruud. And Fritz had a score to settle the No. 8 seed. The SoCal native lost to the Norwegian in a Round 4 tussle at Roland Garros this summer.
So for Fritz, revenge was sweet in this Sunday afternoon rematch at the 2024 US Open. The No. 1 American took it, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.
Because rain had fallen in Flushing Meadows, the afternoon match was played under a closed roof in Louis Armstrong Stadium. And the conditions were muggy according to Paula Badosa, who preceded the men in Armstrong (“I think I’m going to die here today,” she said after her win.)
But both players looked fit, fresh and focused as they settled in. Fast, too: Neither man wasted time starting—or finishing—points. Just 18 minutes into it, and after a series of easy holds, the match was tied at 3-3, for an average of less than three minutes of play per game.
Fritz got in trouble in the eighth game, slipping to a 15-40 deficit. He saved three break points, but after losing a cat-and-mouse exchange at the net, dropped the game to go down, 3-5. With the set on this racquet, Ruud took the next game at love.
First set to the Norwegian: 6-3.
Despite the fact that the men are just a year apart (Ruud is 25; Fritz, 26) and they reached their career high rankings within five months of each other (Ruud No. 2; Fritz No. 5), they’ve only played two tour matches against each. Ruud won them both.
At this point in Sunday’s match, Ruud’s edge came in the form of cleaner play. To start the second set, he had seven unforced errors compared to Fritz’ 15.
The stadium rocked with chants of “Let’s go, Taylor” (if there were Norwegians in the stands, they were a mild-mannered bunch). The energy appeared to invigorate Fritz, and to grab a 2-1 lead in the second set, he tossed down two aces, for a total of nine on the match.
But apart from outright aces, Ruud had a response for Fritz’ every tactic. In his own mild-mannered way, he cruised through his service games too, never facing a break point. That is until he served at 2-3. Two double faults in a row gave Fritz a chance to take a 4-2 lead. But he donated a weak return and Ruud righted the ship to level the set. Score: 3-3.
Ruud seemed to feel the pressure of stepping up to serve at 4-5. He fell to 0-30, but rocketed two gutsy forehands and an ace (just his 2nd). Fritz found his way into the net to earn a set point he didn’t convert. A minute later, Ruud double-faulted, handing the set to the American, 6-3.
Fritz wears a headband that reads “Boss” across it, thanks to an endorsement deal with the fashion brand Hugo Boss. And “boss” is a great way to describe his demeanor in the third set: He broke Ruud to earn an early lead.
Tied at two sets each and 4-1 up, how would Fritz play with his first appreciable advantage? Like a boss. Ruud continued to hold serve but Fritz stayed steady to take the set, 6-3.
In the fourth set, it was clear that unless Fritz resumed the error-plagued play that cost him the first set, the match would be his. For his part, Ruud had his chances, but managed to convert just one of his six break point chances across the match. He also seemed to lose foot speed and, at times, appeared to struggle with the humid conditions.
The Norwegian went down two early breaks—and never regained an advantage. Fritz took the fourth set, 6-2, and the match.
In an on-court interview after the match, Fritz reflected on his first-ever win over Ruud.
“He outplayed me in the first set,” the American allowed. “I was making a good amount of mistakes… and getting a bit frustrated.”
But after that, “I feel like his level dropped a little bit,” said Fritz, who declined to speculate about his chances of taking the title next Sunday. “I’m taking it one match at a time, to be honest. I came into the tournament in 2022 and I lost in the first round,” he added, smiling.
WHAT IT MEANS: The next match for Fritz might be an all-American battle, SoCal style. He could face fellow San Diegan Brandon Nakashima, scheduled to play next in Louis Armstrong Stadium. But to make that happen, Nakashima, No. 50, would have to upset the No. 4 seed Alexander Zverev.
MATCH POINT: Before opening day of the tournament, Fritz was asked why the Orange County area produces so much tennis talent. Along with Nakashima, Alex Michelsen, Learner Tien and Zachary Svajda were all main-draw, SoCal contestants. “It’s great weather for tennis,” Fritz said simply.
