Taylor Fritz lost the opening set against Casper Ruud before taking charge
The home favorite, Taylor Fritz, will compete in his second consecutive US Open quarter-final. The 12th seed met the 8th seed Casper Ruud at Louis Armstrong Stadium and scored a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 victory in two hours and 43 minutes, remaining on the title course.
The American kept his composure in the closing stages of the second set, delivering a late break and dominating sets three and four en route to a notable win and a place in the last eight. The Norwegian made a reliable start before losing ground behind the initial shot in the second part of the second set.
The former finalist lost it and faded from the court, struggling physically and standing no chance in the final stage of the encounter. Taylor fired 24 aces, although they both performed well after landing in the first serve.
The 12th seed played better behind the second serve and overpowered his opponent in the pivotal moments. Fritz defended five of six break points, getting broken once in the opener and keeping his initial shot under control after that.
Casper Ruud & Taylor Fritz, US Open 2024© Stream screenshot
Ruud could not follow that pace, playing against ten break points and suffering four breaks that pushed his rival through. The home favorite blasted 56 winners and 36 unforced errors, outplaying his opponent in that segment and sealing the deal in style.
Both players made a reliable start behind the initial shot, with the American locking the result at 3-3 after 18 minutes. The Norwegian grabbed the next one after a deuce and made the first push on the return at 4-3. Taylor played against four break points and lost serve after a forced error.
Casper served for the opener in game nine and held at love with a service winner, securing the first part of the duel after 34 minutes. The returners had their chances in the middle of the second set. The American defended two break points in the seventh game and kept himself in contention before squandering his opportunity in the next one.
The Norwegian served to stay in the set at 4-5, and the home favorite prolonged the game with a return winner.
Fritz generated two set points, seizing the second after Ruud’s double fault and leveling the overall score after an hour and 27 minutes.
The 12th seed provided five comfortable holds in the third set and forged the advantage with an early break. Casper netted a backhand in the second game, falling behind and earning no chances to pull it back. Taylor served well in the remaining games, clinching the set with an ace in game nine and opening two sets to one advantage after two hours and 11 minutes.
The American barely lost a point behind the initial shot in the fourth set, mounting the pressure on the better-ranked rival. The Norwegian could not follow that pace, losing energy and experiencing a double break early on.
The 12th seed grabbed a break in the first game with a volley winner and blasted an ace for a hold at 15 and 2-0. Ruud struggled again behind the initial shot in the third game, offering his rival four break points. He hit a double fault on the last, falling 3-0 behind and knocking on the exit door.
Casper Ruud, US Open 2024© Stream screenshot
Fritz extended the gap with a hold at love in game four with an ace, racing toward the finish line. They held at love in games six and seven, and Casper served to stay in the match at 1-5.
The 8th seed closed the game with a forehand winner, with his rival focusing on his service games. Taylor served for the win at 5-2 and made no errors, generating two match points and converting the first with an ace, celebrating a place in the quarter-final for the second straight year.
Fritz did not enjoy his early years in New York, failing to pass the third round between 2016 and 2022. The American turned the tables last year, using a favorable draw (no players from the top-70) and losing no set en route to the quarter-final.
Taylor Fritz, US Open 2024© Stream screenshot
Two rivals battled for two hours and 35 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium, and the Serb emerged at the top, reaching his 47th Major semi-final and leaving Roger Federer on 46.
Also, Novak extended his perfect record in the US Open quarter-finals, winning all 13 encounters at that round in New York. The more experienced player outplayed his rival in the opener and delivered a break at 1-1 in set number two.
Djokovic saved four break points in the fourth game, surviving and facing no more issues behind the initial shot in the remaining ones, winning the set 6-4 and moving closer to the top. The American wasted two break points in the sixth game of the third set before they traded breaks and stayed neck and neck.
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