Taylor Fritz extended the winning US Open trend for top American players as the ninth seed began his campaign on a rainy Tuesday, defeating compatriot Darwin Blanch 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.
The No. 245 challenger, aged 18 and paying on a wild card entry, stayed in the chase for an hour, 40 minutes but never had a chance against the 2024 finalist.
Fritz hammered 14 aces among his 39 winners but remained disappointed with his conversion rate on break point, managing to come good on only fourth.
“It’s never easy to come out and pay a young American,” the winner said. “You don;t know what’s going to happen.
“There is pressure regardless in the first match at a Slam, you always have nerved. But the other guy might not have any and he could come out and light it up.”
Fritz said his return game will need work as he heads into the second round.
“My return was not great, he gave me a lot of opportunities, double-faults, second serves…
“Ive been happy with my returning lately but the second serve return could have used some work today.”
Roland Garros finalist Flavio Cobolli, the fifth seed, came from two sets to love down for the first time in his career, spending four and a quarter hours in posting a 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 defeat of Francisco Comesano.
Cobolli detailed his close call on court to SuperTennis after falling to his knees in victory: “There was so much pressure.
“I started the match a bit tense; I couldn’t quite tap into the energy this match deserved. In the end, with nothing left to lose, I went to the bathroom and told myself I could still turn it around.” 💬
“What will my team say to me now? That I’m an idiot.”
Poor weather limited play to the covered showcourts, with the outside courts remaining empty during the wet day.In a baffling scheduling non-decision, the Ashe stadium remained empty and match-less for more than three hours until the presumed start of night play under the roof.
Matches on outside courts resumed in late afternoon.
