Taylor Fritz Is Last American Man Standing At US Open

Taylor Fritz
Taylor Fritz (photo: Jürgen Hasenkopf)

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON, September 1, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)

By the time that 14th seed Tommy Paul of the United States fell to Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik in a five-set thriller, which ended after 1 a.m. Sunday morning on Arthur Ashe Stadium at the US Open, it ended a disappointing two-day stretch in which three American Top-20 men bowed out of the year’s final Grand Slam event in quick succession.

On Friday, No. 6 seed Ben Shelton retired from his third-round match against No. 77 Adrian Mannarino of France after splitting four sets, with an injury to his left shoulder. Soon after, No. 17 seed Frances Tiafoe, a US Open semifinalist in each of the past two years, bowed to Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff in straight sets. Then, Paul exited after crashing out against the 23rd-seeded Bublik.

As the round of 16 began Sunday at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y., just one American man – No. 4 seed Taylor Fritz – remained from the original 128-player singles draw. Fritz faced No. 21 seed Tomas Machac of Czechia on Louis Armstrong Stadium and won impressively, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3, in an hour and 38 minutes. 

This year’s US Open began last Sunday with 23 American men in the field – a strong representation, which included six seeded players: Fritz, Shelton, Paul, Tiafoe, No. 28 Alex Michelsen and No. 30 Brandon Nakashima.

By contrast, the American women are faring better. At the start of play Sunday, there were five left in the last 16: No. 3 seed Coco Gauff, who won the 2023 US Open title; No. 4 seed Jessica Pegula, a finalist last year; No, 8 seed Amanda Anisimova, who was a finalist this year at the Wimbledon Championships; and two unseeded players, Ann Li and Taylor Townsend. The United States began with 25 players among the 128-player lineup.

By the end of the day, though, there were only three remaining. First, Pegula eliminated the 58th-ranked Li, 6-1, 6-2, in an all-American tussle on Arthur Ashe Stadium in just 54 minutes. The World No. 4 won 85 percent (17 of 20) of her first-serve points, hit 12 winners and converted six of nine break points – breaking Li in her first two service games. Pegula outpointed Li 56-29 to advance to Tuesday’s quarterfinal round against two-time major champion Barbora Krejcikova of Czechia, ranked 62nd.

The loss ended the 25-year-old Li’s best run at her home major – and it was her debut on Ashe.

If it seemed like a home match for the 31-year-old Pegula on Arthur Ashe Stadium, which seats nearly 24,000 fans when filled, it was as she’s used to playing on the faster court surface. During the New York fortnight, she’s beaten Mayar Sherif of Egypt, Anna Blinkova of Russia, Victoria Azarenka of Belarus and Li – all in straight sets – while losing just 17 games, the fewest that she’s allowed in reaching the quarterfinals of a major in her career. All of her matches this past week have been contested on Ashe.

“Specifically here being an American, I have played a lot there now,” Pegula said during her on-court interview. “Maybe against someone that hasn’t gotten a lot of reps on that court, I think it is a little bit like a home-court advantage.”

According to the WTA Tour website, Pegula has now won 23 of her past 25 matches against American competition and has compiled an 8-2 win-loss record in fourth-round Grand Slam matches (3-1 at the US Open).

Krejcikova, 29, saved eight match points – seven of them during a 28-point second-set tie-break that lasted more than 20 minutes – and rallied from a set and a break down en route to achieving a 1-6, 7-6 (13), 6-3 victory over the 139th-ranked Townsend in three hours and one minute before a standing room-only on Louis Armstrong Stadium.

The loss ended the 29-year-old Townsend’s quest of reaching her first major quarterfinal. Instead, the No. 1-ranked doubles player on the WTA Tour, will now focus her energy toward winning another major doubles crown with Katerina Siniakova of Czechia, who formerly teamed with Krejcikova.

Although Krejcikova was outpointed by Townsend, 121-11, she pounded home 43 winners that helped to overcome 51 unforced errors and converted four of eight break points. Townsend countered with 37 winners and made 37 unforced errors. The victory advanced Krejcikova to her first Grand Slam quarterfinal since winning her Wimbledon Championships title last year. It’s her sixth major quarterfinal overall and second at the US Open.

“I mean, what a match,” Krejcikova, a winner of a dozen major singles and doubles titles and an Olympic gold medal, said as she tugged with exhaustion and her emotions during an on-court interview. “What a match. Just four months ago I was off the court and couldn’t play. I had a huge pain in my back and didn’t know if I’d ever play again.

“It’s a huge privilege to be here.”

Meanwhile, Fritz, 27, who made his main-draw debut at the US Open in 2016, has been right at home by playing all of his matches on Louis Armstrong Stadium. It’s the second-largest show court at the US Open with a seating capacity of about 14,000. He’s recorded wins over 101st-ranked American wild card Emilio Nava, 353rd-ranked qualifier Lloyd Harris of South Africa, 175th-ranked Swiss qualifier Jerome Kym and Machac.

“Armstrong just feels like my court,” Fritz told the ATP Tour website during a recent interview for its “My US Open” series.

On Sunday evening, Fritz maintained an upper hand against Machac and played superbly as he reached his third consecutive US Open quarterfinal. The 27-year-old Californian dropped just four points on his first serve. He won 91 percent (39 of 43) of those points, hit 14 aces and 30 overall winners, and converted four of eight break points. Fritz, who faced no break points on his serve, outpointed Machac 87-63. The Czechian No. 1 was attempting to reach his first major quarterfinal.

“I had some battles the last couple of matches,” Fritz said during his on-court interview. He was pushed to four sets by both Harris and Kym before winning both skirmishes. “I felt very dialed in and ready to go tonight. I thought I played just very solid and put a lot of balls in the court. I was aggressive at the right times and backed it up with good serving.”

Fritz improved his 2025 win-loss record to 42-15, which has been highlighted by grass-court titles won in Stuttgart and Eastbourne. By reaching the quarterfinals in Flushing Meadows, Fritz is through to his second Grand Slam last eight of the season after his run to the Wimbledon semifinals.

As for coping with his status as the last American man standing at the US Open, Fritz said: “It’s been a tough week for the guys. I guess I wasn’t expecting it to happen. I felt really good about our chances this week but I’m happy to be here; I’m happy to be the last one standing at least. Hopefully, the crowd will get behind me and will me through it.”

Next for Fritz is four-time US Open champion Novak Djokovic, who continues his quest for history: to become the first player – man or woman – to win 25 Grand Slams. Sunday evening on Arthur Ashe Stadium, Djokovic defeated No. 144 Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2, in one hour and 49 minutes. His latest victory against Struff was his eighth in eight career meetings and it advanced him to his 64th career major quarterfinal – including 14 at the US Open.

With his latest victory, which improved his 2025 win-loss record to 30-9 (16-5 on hard courts), Djokovic became the first man to reach the quarterfinals at all four majors in nine different seasons. At 38, he’s the oldest person to achieve that feat.

Djokovic hit 33 winners – including 12 aces – and converted six of eight break points against Struff, who countered with 19 winners but made 32 unforced errors. The Serbian great outpointed his opponent 90-62.

During his on-court interview, Djokovic said he enjoys playing night sessions at the US Open. “I don’t know how many more I’m going to have, so each one is very special.”

Alcaraz reaches 13th major quarterfinal

World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz became the youngest man in the Open Era to reach 13 major quarterfinals after defeating the big-serving Arthur Rinderknech of France, 7-6 (3), 6-3, 6-4, in two hours and 12 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium Sunday afternoon. The victory advanced the 22-year-old Spaniard into his fourth major quarterfinals of the season.

The second-seeded Alcaraz maintained a spotless record in not dropping any sets en route to the quarterfinal round – the first time he’s done this at a Grand Slam – as he tamed the 82nd-ranked Frenchman, a former Texas A&M collegiate star, who hit 11 aces and 25 overall winners in his first round of 16 appearance at a major. Alcaraz struck 36 winners, made only 11 unforced errors, converted two of five break points and saved the only two break points he faced from Rinderknech. He outpointed his opponent 100-75 and now boasts a 4-0 career head-to-head record against Rinderknech.

“At the beginning of the first set, we were tight. We didn’t have break points in the first set, but it didn’t mean we were serving good, because the percentage was really bad from both,” the 2022 US Open champion Alcaraz said during his on-court interview. “I just [found] a good rhythm, a good position for the returns. … I tried to make the most of the opportunities that he gave me, but there weren’t too many.”

Alcaraz, who has won 10 straight matches going back to the start of his run in winning the Cincinnati Open, added: “I think my style of tennis fits pretty well with the energy here in New York. Every time that I step on the court for a match, for a practice, the people are always there. The energy is special. Day session, night session, it doesn’t matter. The people are always there enjoying tennis, and bringing the best energy possible.”

The victory for Alcaraz, his ATP Tour-leading 58th, advanced him to his fourth US Open quarterfinal in five appearances. Next, he will face No. 20 seed Jiri Lehecka of Czechia, who downed 77th-ranked Adrian Mannarino of France, 7-6 (4), 6-4, 2-6, 6-2, in three hours and 14 minutes on Louis Armstrong Stadium behind 18 aces and 56 overall winners. The win lifted the 23-year-old Lehecka up to No. 15 in PIF ATP Live Rankings and ensured him of his Top-20 debut following the tournament when the rankings are updated.

Around the US Open

• Women’s defending champion and top seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus defeated 95th-ranked Cristina Bucsa of Spain, 6-1, 6-4, in an economical 73 minutes on Louis Armstrong Stadium Sunday evening for her 11th straight US Open victory.

 Sabalenka remains in the chase to become the first US Open women’s champion to repeat since Serena Williams, who won three straight from 2012-14. With her 54th triumph of 2025, she’s through to her fifth straight US Open quarterfinal. Sabalenka hit 26 winners, converted three of nine break points and outpointed Bucsa 66-49. 

“My mentality is going out there every time with the best fight in spirit and just fight for my dream,” Sabalenka said during her on-court interview.

Next, Sabalenka will face either No. 9 seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan or No. 60 Marketa Vondrousova of Czechia, who played on Arthur Ashe Stadium late Sunday night.

Sunday’s US Open results

Monday’s US Open order of play

By the numbers

• Alexander Bublik is the 10th man this century to not concede a single break through to the US Open’s second week. In his first three matches, Bublik saved both break points he faced against Marin Cilic, saved four against Tristan Schoolkate, and fought off all six he faced against Tommy Paul.

• According to Matt Roberts of The Tennis Podcast, five Czech players are into the Last 16, which is a Grand Slam record since Czechoslovakia split into two independent nations – the Czech Republic and Slovakia – in 1993. The five Czechians into the fourth round include: Marketa Vondrousova, Karolina Muchova, Barbora Krejcikova, Jiri Lehecka and Tomas Machac.

“Quotable …”

“This feels good. This feels good. I’ve been coming here since 2018. I’m still young, but it’s been a few years and I’m working my way. Some of you it might be the first time you’re watching me tonight. But this feels really good. 

“Obviously job’s not done. The tournament’s still going, but this means a lot to me. A lot of hard work, many years.”

– Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada, the 25th seed, during his on-court interview Saturday night on Louis Armstrong Stadium, after upsetting No. 3 seed Alexander Zverev of Germany, 4-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4, 6-4, to advance to the fourth round. It’s the first time into the second week at the US Open for Auger-Aliassime since 2021.

 

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