Home favourite and world No. 4 Taylor Fritz advanced to the third round of the US Open after a hard-fought four-set victory over South Africa’s Lloyd Harris, ranked No. 353 in the world.
The final score read 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2, 6-4 on Wednesday evening, keeping Fritz on course to potentially become the first American man since Pete Sampras to reach back-to-back US Open finals, a feat achieved from 2000 to 2002.
Early Struggles Against Harris’s Aggression
Fritz’s win did not come easily. Harris, who has been regaining form following injury earlier this year, came out strong, taking the first set by keeping Fritz pinned to the back of the court and targeting his backhand relentlessly.
The windy conditions at Louis Armstrong Stadium didn’t make life easier for Fritz, forcing him to adapt his shots and strategy early on.
Harris’s aggressive style had Fritz on the back foot, making the first set a real test of composure for the 2024 finalist.
Turning Point in the Second Set
The momentum shifted during the second set when Harris had to take a medical timeout due to an injury flare-up.
Fritz capitalized on the opportunity, clinching the set in a tie-break 7-3. From that point onward, the world No. 4 found his rhythm, serving with authority and precision.
He landed 17 aces, hit 63% of his first serves, and won 89 points on his serve overall, dominating the latter stages of the match.
Fritz Reflects on a Tough Match
After the match, Fritz admitted that it was a challenging win against such a disciplined opponent.
Speaking to reporter Amisha Savani, he explained:
“Lloyd is the same age as me, and I’ve known him forever. He’s dangerous because he’s solid from the back.
He doesn’t make many mistakes and has a very good serve.
In the first set, I had chances, but he saved the break points and played some excellent shots, which is all it takes to drop a set. He’s a very solid player.”
The Impact of Harris’s Medical Timeout
When asked about Harris’s medical timeout and how it affected the match, Fritz noted subtle changes in his opponent’s movement and serving power.
“His serve lost a little bit of pop, but he was still hitting around 120mph on his flat serve.
Later in the match, even when I got broken at 5-2, he played one of the most incredible games, running everywhere.
It seemed like he had some flare-ups, then felt better.
I wasn’t totally sure what was happening, so I focused on playing my game.”
Looking Ahead: Fritz’s Next Challenge
With this win, Fritz now prepares to face another qualifier, Jerome Kym of Switzerland, in the third round.
Amisha Savani is reporting exclusively from the US Open in Flushing Meadows for The South African.
