Published: 10:29, September 9, 2024
Fritz fears he let down American fans with US Open defeat
By Reuters
Taylor Fritz (left), of the United States, and Jannik Sinner, of Italy, pose for photos after Sinner defeated Fritz in the men's singles final of the US Open tennis championships, Sept 8, 2024, in New York. (PHOTO / AP) 

NEW YORK - Taylor Fritz enjoyed his deepest major run at the US Open but said he felt as though he let American fans down after losing in the final, unable to end a long US men's Grand Slam drought when he fell to top seed Jannik Sinner on Sunday.

No American man has hoisted a major trophy since Andy Roddick in 2003 and fans piled into Arthur Ashe Stadium hoping to see it happen, cheering wildly as they urged on the 12th-seeded Fritz.

READ MORE: Sinner wins US Open, American Grand Slam drought continues

But Italian Sinner's ruthless play snuffed out any hope Fritz might have had in straight sets and the American sat grimly at a post-match media conference, offering a withering appraisal of his performance.

"Right now I'm pretty just disappointed in ... just a lot of things on the court, how I played, how I hit certain shots. It sucks," he said after the 6-3 6-4 7-5 defeat.

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"American fans, been wanting a men's champion for a long time, and I just, I don't know, I'm pretty upset with how I played. I feel like, I don't know, I feel like I almost let a lot of people down."

Taylor Fritz, of the United States, returns a shot to Jannik Sinner, of Italy, during the men's singles final of the US Open tennis championships, Sept 8, 2024, in New York. (PHOTO / AP)

The progress Fritz made in New York was undeniable. He beat two top-10 opponents - former finalists Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev - en route to his first major semi-final, where he took down compatriot Frances Tiafoe.

It was the breakthrough he wanted after four previous major quarter-final appearances.

"There's obviously a lot of positives, and when I get some time to, like, cool down, you know, then I'll be happy about the fact that I made it to the final," he said.

READ MORE: Sabalenka survives Pegula storm to win US Open women's title

He will get back into the top 10 as a result of his deep run at Flushing Meadows and will rejoin his countrymen to compete in the Laver Cup, leaving New York with at least one dream realized.

"Hearing the crowd go crazy and just kind of, like, soaking in the moment," he said.

"Like, I'm walking out to play my match on Ashe in the US Open final (it) is what I dreamed about my whole life. It almost got me emotional, but I was just really happy and ready to enjoy the moment."