US Open: Taylor Fritz ready to face Jannik Sinner, a less stressful match

Taylor Fritz believes his US Open title clash against Jannik Sinner on Sunday will be less stressful than his encounter with fellow American Frances Tiafoe because he will be the underdog when he meets the world number one.

Fritz, the top-ranked American at No. 12 in the world, beat Tiafoe 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the semifinals on Friday night, taking a big step toward ending his country’s 21-year wait for a men’s Grand Slam champion.

Having become the first American to reach a Grand Slam final since Andy Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009, Fritz said he would relish his chance at glory.

“I always enjoyed playing against him (Sinner). To be honest, I don’t think I’ll be put in a more stressful situation than today,” Fritz told reporters.

“I think today was a lot more stressful than playing the final. I feel good. I have the feeling that I’m going to play very well and win.”

The match came after Sinner beat an ailing Jack Draper 7-5 7-6(3) 6-2, with the nation’s hopes weighing heavily on the two Americans.

“We both want to be the one to do it,” said Fritz, who held a 6-1 advantage in head-to-head matches with Tiafoe heading into the match.

“I’m not going to go into this match thinking I’m the favorite because everything is totally different when you play a match like this,” adding that Tiafoe had played incredible tennis during the US Open.

Fritz was beaten in three sets the last time he met Sinner, in the quarter-finals at Indian Wells last year, and he expects a huge test against a player who has since made his Grand Slam breakthrough by winning this year’s Australian Open.

“He hits, he hits the ball hard, he’s like a really strong hitter, but I feel like I always hit the ball really well with his ball,” Fritz said.

“I think I usually play well against him.”