US OPEN

August 30, 2024

Taylor Fritz

Press Conference

T. FRITZ/F. Comesana

6-3, 6-4, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Taylor, congratulations. Three sets. Tidy two hours. What went right for you today?

TAYLOR FRITZ: I mean, I played pretty well. I had a plan. I knew I was going to have to come to the net a lot. So I was successful at that. I figured some things out as the match went on too I think that I guess made it a little easier.

But, I mean, it was huge. I saved some breakpoints in the first and a breakpoint in the second. That was big for me to not go down a break in both those sets.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. How would you say your level of confidence is right now? I'm guessing it's high. If so, when was the last time you felt this good on court?

TAYLOR FRITZ: It's feeling pretty good. I wouldn't say it's any higher than it was, I mean, any higher than it's been most of this year, I'd say. I think I've been feeling pretty good on the court almost all year, aside from, like, I think, like, Miami/Monte-Carlo was, like, two weeks where I just forgot how to play a little bit (smiling).

Outside of those two weeks, I feel like I've been feeling good, so, yeah, it's nice.

Q. You've now reached the second week in all four majors. That's very unusual for an American man. It hasn't happened since 2003, Andre Agassi. What do you think that says about the level of your game and your consistency?

TAYLOR FRITZ: I don't know. I think, I mean, it's a pretty cool thing for me to do, because, you know, just last year I was really struggling with Grand Slam results.

You know, obviously making quarterfinals here was huge, but I was able to end, I guess, 10, I think, in the year-end rankings last year, and I lost, like, second round, second round, I think third round maybe of all the other slams or second round. My slam performances were bad, so it's nice to, I guess, do a lot better at something I put a lot of emphasis on, which was performing at the slams and performing at the biggest tournaments.

Q. What kind of testament is it to the work you put in both in between tournaments and at the tournaments? How would you describe that level of work that you put in?

TAYLOR FRITZ: I feel like I'm always working pretty hard. I feel like that wasn't, I guess, wasn't the issue previously. I think it's a lot more just mental, just being locked in, ready to go, getting past those, like, early rounds that can be stressful, can be a lot of pressure. I think that's really where I've been finding the success and getting through, I think.

You know, the work that's in between the tournament, before the tournament, it's always been there. I don't think that's changed too much.

Q. What is your sense of sort of through this learning process and now becoming some kind of a mainstay the second week of what's your sort of appreciation and understanding of what it takes to potentially go deep into a second week, given that you're starting to get more familiar with that territory?

TAYLOR FRITZ: Yeah, I mean, I think a big part of it is just getting through those early rounds, because I do feel like you get confidence, you start playing better. I think the match I played two nights ago was a really solid match, and it gave me a lot of confidence to feel good in the match today.

You know, I think getting to the point is a big part of it, just because it helps you play so much better. I know that's so obvious. And then really just showing up, showing up on the day, playing really good tennis when, I guess, you need to.

Because, you know, sometimes if the draw allows it, you're a high-seeded player, you can get to the second week not playing your best tennis, just playing solid tennis. But to beat the top guys, sometimes you're not going to just get by if you're not, you know, if you're just playing average level. So have to really raise the level.

Q. Were you watching Frances and Ben finish?

TAYLOR FRITZ: Just a little bit, yeah.

Q. What did you think?

TAYLOR FRITZ: I mean, I thought they were playing some good points. I thought the match point was really crazy. I thought Ben made an insane return, and then Frances made a really, really crazy volley to finish it. Yeah, I wasn't watching it too much. I wasn't paying too much attention to it.

Q. What are your thoughts about the prices of the grounds passes at US Open being more than $300, like, six times more than Wimbledon?

TAYLOR FRITZ: Yeah, I mean, I don't know. I feel like I wasn't aware, but if the tickets are selling out, then, you know, then I guess there shouldn't be anything wrong with the price. I think it's about the supply and the demand, obviously. I would love tennis to be super inclusive and have as many people and, you know, easy for a lot of people to come, but if you can fully sell out a venue at a higher ticket price, then that kind of is what it is (smiling).

Q. The first point in the third set you hit the most incredible overhead with both feet off the ground. I was just wondering, are such incredible shots like that inherent to you, or do they come with practice?

TAYLOR FRITZ: I think certain shots like that kind of just happen, especially when you're feeling loose, feeling good. Those are kind of like, I don't know, like intangible shots that you do in the moment, because, you know, it feels good.

Q. I have been asking players, like, if in practice, say, have they ever experienced cheating, like, with line calling. I asked Daniil Medvedev, he said that back in Wimbledon, 2018, you two played a practice set, and afterwards his wife overheard you thinking that he cheated. He thought it was funny, and he genuinely wasn't cheating. Wonder if you have any recollection of that?

TAYLOR FRITZ: Yeah, I heard about this. I don't fully remember it. I think if I said something, I feel like I remember maybe he gave me, like, maybe he just gave me a bad call. I do it all the time. Like, someone makes a bad call in practice, I'll turn to my coach, be like, He just hooked me so bad there or gave me such a bad call.

Like, I don't really care, but I know there are, no one's trying to do it on purpose. I make a comment, Yeah, that was a really bad call.

But if that happened, that's what happened. I wasn't -- I wasn't, like, Oh, he's cheating me so bad (smiling). Definitely, it's not, like, it's not that deep (smiling).

Q. In general, do you think it happens much? Like some players have said, yeah, there is a lot of cheaters. Others have said no.

TAYLOR FRITZ: I think there is probably, like, certain players that, not that I have encountered in a long time, but I feel like there are certain players that call it a bit tighter than others.

For me, I feel like I'm always giving away calls in practice. If anything is an inch or two from the line, I normally just call it in, because I don't want people saying I'm cheating in practice (smiling).

No, I feel like most of the time when someone gives a bad call, it's probably just by mistake. Especially, like, we have all been pros for however long, we haven't called our own lines. You get used to not calling your own lines.