By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Saturday, September 2, 2023

NEW YORK—A sound floor sport has carried Taylor Fritz into the US Open fourth spherical for the primary time.

Firing up his first serve is the important thing for Fritz unlocking an prolonged keep in Flushing Meadows.

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Fritz drilled 10 aces, received 30 of 33 first-serve factors and didn't face a single break level demolishing 206th-ranked Czech Jakub Mensik on his 18th birthday on Friday.

Given that serving command—Fritz has dropped simply 13 video games by means of three rounds, his 89 p.c first-serve factors received leads the match and his 142 mph blast is the second quickest serve of the match behind Ben Shelton's 148 mph missile and —you may assume he is being extremely hyper-critical of his serving.

The 25-year-old Fritz, who faces 128th-ranked Swiss qualifier Dominic Stricker for a quarterfinal spot, sees it in a different way.

If Fritz is to succeed in his second profession main quarterfinal—and extra—this week he is aware of his wrecking ball serve should be an even bigger weapon.

Why?

Because 23-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, a possible quarterfinal opponent, and reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz are higher in operating rallies.

"I think just the next step to, like, really -- if we're going to talk about going extremely deep, winning the tournament, I think the serve needs to be clicking a little more than it is," Fritz stated. "I think I'm getting away with winning a lot of baseline points and winning a lot of points on my second serve because just from the ground I've been, one, playing well, and just been a bit better from the ground than people I've played, I feel like.

"But I believe once I begin to play folks which might be excellent from the bottom, I'm going to wish to get extra free factors on my serve and rely extra on my serve. I believe that is the subsequent step, to up that share and serve slightly bit higher if I need to take out the highest guys."

Taking out Stricker, a former Roland Garros boys singles and doubles champion, could be tricky too.

The left-handed Stricker has already won six matches, including three in qualifying. Stricker stopped Alexei Popyrin, the man who beat Fritz at the Australian Open, in the first round before toppling Australian Open finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second round.

There are four Americans in the US Open round of 16 for the first time since 2011. The ninth-seeded Fritz, who joined 2022 semifinalist Frances Tiafoe, AO semifinalist Tommy Paul and AO quarterfinalist Ben Shelton in the fourth round said he's not surprised by this American anthem.

"I anticipated it. I anticipated Frances and Tommy to maneuver ahead," Fritz said. "Yes, even yesterday earlier than everybody performed at this time, I appeared on the draw. This facet of the draw is loopy. I checked out it for the primary time, the entire thing. I used to be like, Wow, certainly one of these guys, on their facet, is for positive making it to the semifinals. Not to place strain on them, however... That's simply what I assumed personally. I used to be like, Wow, I'm wondering who it may be, however certainly one of them goes to be within the semis, I'd say.

"Yeah, we're all talking and seeing each other in the locker rooms and stuff. It's cool. We're going to hopefully keep it going."

Photo credit score: Brad Penner/USTA

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