NEW YORK — Within the build-up to Wimbledon, Taylor Fritz stated males’s tennis feels extra open now, in contrast with the Massive Three period.
“It took simply considered one of them to be enjoying extremely effectively,” he stated of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
“We had been youthful and not so good as we at the moment are. You had been hoping that they’d have an off day and also you’d have an on day,” Fritz stated. “These days, anybody within the prime 15, it’s form of whoever performs higher.
“It’s thrilling for all of us as a result of we all know that each one it takes is 2 weeks or 10 days of enjoying actually high-level tennis, and taking the chance as finest as doable.”
This U.S. Open has proved Fritz proper and mistaken. Early exits for Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz supplied hope to the chasing pack, however the event ended upholding the established order, as world No. 1 Jannik Sinner gained his second Grand Slam of the 12 months by beating Fritz 6-3, 6-4, 7-5.
With the opposite two majors of 2024 going to Alcaraz, 21, he and Sinner, 23, have gained 5 of the final six Slams. They’re delivering on the sharp finish of majors with Massive Three-like effectivity, and so they’re nonetheless fairly younger.
Their domination feels completely different to the remainder of the locker room, although. After Frances Tiafoe was defeated by Fritz in Friday’s semifinal, he stated this event had been “large” in exhibiting the perfect of the remaining {that a} Grand Slam win is inside attain. “It reveals that it’s undoubtedly doable,” he stated. “The sport’s open. Even with Alcaraz and Sinner and these different guys, it’s not what it was.”
Alexander Zverev, ranked simply forward of Alcaraz at No. 2 however with out the identical main success, expressed comparable sentiments forward of Wimbledon.
A part of the sentiment comes from the truth that even when they’re profitable the majority of the slams, Sinner and Alcaraz aren’t but on the level of being a shoo-in for the semis or finals of each large event. Alcaraz confirmed that together with his second-round exit right here. Djokovic continues to be wildly proficient however has been extra uneven, providing the sector a glimmer of hope after his worst Grand Slam 12 months since 2017 (and second worst since 2009).
Fritz stated Sunday that what encourages him is that he reached the ultimate with out enjoying that effectively.
“I feel it’s actually constructive for me as a result of I don’t really feel like at any particular level in these two weeks … I used to be enjoying, like, wonderful tennis,” he stated. “Perhaps it is a little more open. I don’t assume it’s a must to, I don’t know, play unbelievable to go deep in tournaments and contend.”
“Once I play good tennis,” Taylor Fritz stated, “I feel that stage is sweet sufficient to win.” (Jamie Squire / Getty Pictures)
Gamers akin to Fritz additionally haven’t constructed up the form of scar tissue with Alcaraz and Sinner that that they had with the Massive Three. Even when they discover themselves shedding to them, at the least they really feel like they’ve an opportunity of profitable.
With the Massive Three, gamers akin to Fritz largely went in with hope somewhat than expectations. In contrast, earlier than going through Sinner, Fritz stated: “I’ve a sense I’m going to return out and play very well and win. Once I play good tennis, I feel that stage is sweet sufficient to win.”
Ultimately, Sinner proved too sturdy. Fritz acknowledged afterward that: “I feel that (now) you could find your self just a little deeper within the attracts — quarterfinals and stuff — if you happen to simply play strong tennis. I nonetheless assume to beat the highest guys, you might want to carry your finest sport.”
And that’s the rub. For a participant like Fritz to interrupt by and win a slam, he greater than probably nonetheless has to face Sinner, Alcaraz or Djokovic. And as a lot as this event confirmed there is perhaps extra possibilities for gamers exterior the elite to achieve the quarters, semis and finals, none of these gamers recorded a landmark win towards one of many prime three.
Djokovic’s conqueror, Alexei Popyrin, is a rung or two under the group of most important challengers, and Botic van de Zandschulp, who defeated Alcaraz, isn’t prone to be on the sharp finish of slams anytime quickly.
Fritz, although, will come out of this event together with his standing within the sport barely altered. He spoke after shedding to Sinner about how one can solely beat what’s in entrance of you, and the best way he navigated the extremely aggravating and barely unusual semifinal towards his good good friend and compatriot Tiafoe on Friday appears to have boosted his confidence.
There had all the time been a contest between these two and the remainder of the shut group of American gamers about who would get to a Grand Slam closing first. Fritz has accomplished it and, in his thoughts, whereas not enjoying his finest. That bodes effectively for him heading into the Australian Open in January.
However Sunday, Fritz was reminded he’s nonetheless a means off from taking that closing step. He spoke about how his Plan B of grinding it out works towards most gamers however not these on the very prime. He is aware of he’ll want so as to add extra to his sport to take that subsequent step.
As a result of whereas the paths to the semis and finals is perhaps getting simpler, so long as Alcaraz and Sinner are delivering, the chasing pack nonetheless has a technique to go.
(High photograph: Kena Betancur / AFP)
