Expectations are already high for an American man to break a 21-year Grand Slam drought without Taylor Fritz compounding pressure with bold declarations during this year’s US Open.
The leading light in recent years among a cohort of five US men now in the top 20, Fritz learnt the hard way when he voiced his intentions loud and clear at Flushing Meadows two years ago.
Through to his third Grand Slam quarterfinal this season – the fifth of his career – following a 3-6 6-4 6-3 6-2 win over eighth seed Casper Ruud, the 26-year-old took a more measured approach to announcing his prospects ahead of a showdown against fourth seed Alexander Zverev, a player he has beaten four times in nine encounters.
“I went into the US Open 2022 saying I think that I'm a contender and I can win it, and I lost first round,” Fritz recounted of a four-set defeat to a world No.303 qualifier, Brandon Holt.
“So obviously the draw, it's impossible to not know that there's more of an opportunity with how the draw has opened up. It's still the same as it's been for me.
“Take it one match at a time. Worry about the person that's in front of me, and we'll go from there. But, yeah, it's been a good week so far. The success in Slams has been nice, but I am a little bit sick of just making it to the quarterfinals, and I definitely want to go further.”
Zverev ensured there was no guarantee yet of an American semifinalist after his four-set victory over Brandon Nakashima.
But American hopes remained buoyant after Tiafoe ended Alexei Popyrin’s run to reach his third straight US Open quarterfinal for a shot at ninth seed Grigor Dimitrov, while 14th seed Tommy Paul was yet to face world No.1 Jannik Sinner in the fourth round.
Should Paul surprise Sinner, it would mark the second straight year a trio of Americans feature in the US Open quarterfinals after Ben Shelton, Fritz and Tiafoe.
It demonstrates a consistency in depth – and a burden Fritz is all too happy to share.
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“I think it's always been shared, like, the pressure I guess among all of us. I don't think I've ever really been the one,” Fritz said. “I think there's always been someone else, at least one other person, doing really well.
“Now we have, like, four or five guys that are all incredible players. It's great because I think we all… push each other and make each other better, to be honest.”
The last American man to triumph on a Grand Slam stage, Andy Roddick, was as keen as any of his compatriots to witness a successor.
The former world No.1, who denied Juan Carlos Ferrero for the 2003 US Open, told Tennis Channel it was important the process was not overcomplicated.
“Twenty-one sets. Sometimes we overthink it and I think it’s become such a weird thing now that I think there’s this added pressure,” Roddick said. “I’ve been the answer to a Jeopardy question for so long.
“I think just progress. I like the guys now; I think they’ve created a bit of a healthy jealousy. I like it when someone makes the semis of an event and then all of a sudden Tommy Paul says, ‘Wait I beat that guy last week, I can do it too’.
“We saw that big time in the ’80s, ’90s… Simply 21 sets. You can’t win the tournament on the first Monday.”
Following his third top-10 win at a major over 2022 finalist Ruud, Fritz now is the first American man since Roddick 17 years ago to reach three major quarterfinals in the same season.
In 2022, Tiafoe became the first American since Roddick in 2006 to reach the last four in New York, before Shelton repeated the feat last year.
Fritz stands on the cusp of emulating his countrymen with a first major semifinal.
“I think as you get better, your expectations go up,” Fritz said. “What makes you satisfied, what makes you happy as far as ranking and results, that also goes up.
“I think in the past I've been very, very excited, very happy to make quarterfinals at Slams. I think I'm at the point now where I'm still happy to make quarterfinals, but I wouldn't be happy with it ending here.
“I definitely am at the point where I really want more than that.”