Taylor Fritz hopes to ‘actually upset’ two American rivals at French Open

Taylor Fritz is looking down a first-ever title on clay on the French Open and would not thoughts if he upsets a few his finest pals within the course of. The 25-year-old American received his Roland-Garros off to a flying begin by expertly dispatching compatriot Michael Mmoh within the first spherical with a straight units victory, throughout which he solely dropped 5 video games.

After reaching the semi-finals at tour occasions in Geneva, Munich and Monte Carlo in latest weeks, the present world No.8 is now hoping to go one higher in Paris as he makes an attempt to register a maiden Grand Slam triumph.

Fritz is one in all a clutch of rising American gamers who’re all in scorching pursuit of a primary Major title, together with Frances Tiafoe and Tommy Paul.

But when requested how intense the tour rivalry was between the trio, Fritz painted an amicable image for reporters.

Speaking after his first-round win in opposition to Mmoh, Fritz stated: “It’s super friendly. Obviously you say Frances and Tommy, it’s two of my absolute best friends. I’m happy for both of them when they have good results. I think all of us, we’re all very close friends, but at the same time, of course, all of us want to be the first one to have that big breakthrough.

“If any one in all us gained a Slam, the blokes that did not could be completely happy for them, however then they’d even be actually upset that it wasn’t them. I feel that is all a mutual feeling and to be anticipated. We’re all opponents, and all of us wish to be the one to do it.”

Although the 6ft 5″ star is but to register a tour win on clay, he accepts to 2023 has marked an upturn in efficiency on the floor, which supplies him confidence for what is perhaps to return additional into the yr.

He stated: “Yeah. I mean, I’ve had the best results on clay, for sure, this season. Also, being a way higher seed the whole season in tournaments that I’ve been before definitely helps a lot too. You get more favorable draws.

“But yeah, I’ve been positively enjoying my finest. I feel the outcomes may have been lots higher. I feel I let a few matches that I ought to have gained slip away from me, and it is fairly disappointing. But the general degree persistently has been a lot greater than traditional, I’d say, on clay for me.”

Tommy Paul is safely into the second spherical following a straight-sets win in opposition to Dominic Stricker of Switzerland and it was plain crusing for Tiafoe in opposition to Serbia’s Filip Kranjinovic, with the American additionally progressing with out dropping a set.