Google News Taylor Fritz makes honest admission after shock US Open loss to qualifier
by DZEVAD MESIC | VIEW 20056
Top-ranked American tennis player Taylor Fritz said he felt like "an idiot" after setting his eyes on the US Open title and then losing in the first round to qualifier Brandon Holt. Fritz, who was the 10th-seeded player in the US Open main draw, exited the US Open in the first round after 303rd-ranked Holt handed him a 6-7 (3) 7-6 (1) 6-3 6-4 loss.
After making his first Grand Slam quarterfinal at this past Wimbledon, Fritz was aiming a deep run in front of his home fans in New York. "Yeah [it feels as bad as the Wimbledon defeat to Nadal], it sucks. I mean, feels awful.
Been playing really well. Had really high hopes. I feel like an idiot for thinking that I could win this thing, win the US Open. I can't go out and play a match like that. It sucks. I feel awful," Fritz admitted.
Fritz: I didn't play well enough but a lot of credit to Holt
"Just my level tonight is just not kind of what I've come to expect of myself as a player.
To be honest, a lot of times in a match like this I can get away with playing like that, kind of toughing it out," Fritz assessed. "A lot of credit to Brandon. He played a lot of really good points. He honestly played well. I think a lot of times I get through these type of matches sometimes." Holt, who is the son of former two-time US Open champion Tracy Austin, was playing his first-ever Grand Slam main draw match.
In his Grand Slam debut, Holt stunned a top-15 player. Fritz wasn't trying to make up excuses but noted that it wasn't ideal to play Holt, someone with whom he often practices and someone who knows his game extremely well.
"It definitely makes it a lot tougher, the facts that we know each other so well, practice with each other a lot. It's a big neutralizer, for sure," Fritz added.