In Melbourne Saturday, Taylor Fritz reached the round of 16 of a major for the first time. The American was previously 0-7 in the third round on the Grand Slam stage, though all but one of his losses came at the hands of higher-ranked opponents and four occurred against Top 5 seeds. A look at his journey to this week’s breakthrough Down Under.
2018 US Open R3
(9) Dominic Thiem d. Fritz: 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-4 after three hours and 19 minutes
2019 Aussie Open R3
(3) Roger Federer d. Fritz: 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 after one hour and 28 minutes
2020 Aussie Open R3
(5) Dominic Thiem d. (29) Fritz: 6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-4 after two hours and 50 minutes
2020 US Open R3
(12) Denis Shapovalov d. (19) Fritz: 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-2 after three hours and 26 minutes -led 5-2 in the fourth set
2020 Roland Garros R3
Lorenzo Sonego d. (27) Fritz: 7-6(5), 6-3, 7-6(17) after three hours and seven minutes
2021 Australian Open R3
(1) Novak Djokovic d. (27) Fritz: 7-6 (1), 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-2 after three hours and 25 minutes
2021 Wimbledon R3
(4) Alexander Zverev d. (31) Fritz: 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (4) after two hours and 38 minutes
But then it all changed January 22, 2022…
2022 Aussie Open R3
(20) Fritz d. (15) Roberto Bautista Agut: 6-0, 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 after three hours and 14 minutes
"After that match, I was almost close to like tearing up a bit. It seems stupid, because so many people have made the second week of slams, but it's just, like, eluded me for so long. I have had a lot of tough matches, honestly a lot of tough draws, never gotten a great look at it, I guess," he said.
In his anticipated fourth-round debut, Fritz gets yet another Top 5 opponent at a major. Fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas advanced shortly afterwards after beating Benoit Paire over four sets.