Fritz eliminates Machac 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 to reach US Open quarters

Taylor Fritz, the number one American and last year’s finalist, was in search of form and inspiration following a less-than-stellar summer hardcourt swing. He lost in the round of sixteen in Cincinnati, the semis in Toronto, and the quarters in DC. The world #4 cruised to a straight-sets victory in his opening round in NY, but needed four sets in his last two matches.

Standing in his way of making the final eight for the third consecutive time was the talented Czech, Tomas Machac. Currently ranked two spots below his career high of #20, the 24-year-old is the 21st seed at the season’s final slam. Earlier this season, he won his first and only tour-level tournament to date at the ATP 500 Mexican Open. At the USTA BJK National Tennis Center, he has progressed to the fourth round for the second consecutive year without the loss of a set!

Fritz led the head-to-head 2-0. This was their second tour-level meeting on hardcourt and second at the slam level. On a glorious summer evening with the roof open on Armstrong, Fritz opened and closed with aces to hold at love. Machac made 3/4 first serves and, with two consecutive forehand winners, held at love to level.

(Image: Getty)

The American made 5/6 first serves and held to 30 while Machac faced 0-30 then held to 30 with a blistering backhand crosscourt winner. Fritz opened the fifth with his third ace and held easily to 15 while Machac donated a double fault, faced two deuce and a break point before, and held with a massive backhand down the line. Fritz missed 3/5 first serves but with two additional aces, held to 15 for 4-3.

Machac serving with new balls held easily to 15 with an ace out wide, while Fritz donated a double fault yet held for 5-4 with a fantastic forehand down the line. Machac, serving to stay in the set, gifted three consecutive unforced errors and dumped serve to concede it.

Fritz served first in the second, and though he donated another double fault, he held to 30 with an ace up the tee. Machac opened with his second double fault and though he faced a break point and deuce, leveled at one with an ace out wide.

Fritz dictating with controlled aggression, hit two additional aces and held to 30 for 2-1 while Machac made 4/5 first serves and held to 15 to level. The world #4 struck two additional aces and held at love, and Machac returned the favor with three exceptional groundstroke winners for a love hold.

Fritz made it a hat-trick holding at love for 4-3 with a winning crosscourt forehand and a 120mph serve down the middle. Machac made 4/6 first serves but faced a double break point and dropped serve when Fritz pummeled a backhand down the line.

The American #1 served for the set and secured it 6-3 with his eleventh ace, a blistering backhand down the line, and a missed return from his opponent.

Machac served first in the third and with a 122mph ace up the tee, held to 15 while Fritz opened with an ace up the tee and with a remarkable inside-in forehand, held at love to level. Machac donated three consecutive unforced errors, including his third double fault to dump serve, and Fritz, with his thirteenth ace, consolidated the break for 3-1.

Machac held at love with two spectacular cross-court backhands, and Fritz replied in kind, crushing two extraordinary inside-out forehands to hold at love. Machac, serving with new balls, hit his third ace and held to 30 for 3-4 while Fritz held at love with two winners, including an ace out wide for 5-3.

Machac, serving to stay in the match, hit his fourth ace, but it was too little too late; as the unforced errors continued to accrue, the American pounced and secured victory when Machac netted a backhand.

It was an outstanding performance from the world #4. Fritz maintained an aggressive mindset throughout the match while playing within himself. In a little over 90 minutes, Fritz subdued an opponent that had not dropped a set through three rounds. He finished with fourteen aces, two double faults, and won an astounding 91% of first and 65% of second serve points. He did not face a single break point while converting 4/8.

Fritz, the lone American left in the draw and the 2024 US Open finalist, will face a daunting challenge in the quarterfinals: 24-time grand slam champion and former world #1 Novak Djokovic.
Although Fritz trails 0-10 in the head-to-head, they have not played in nearly a year. The last time they met at the US Open was two years prior in the quarters, which Djokovic took in straights.