US Open: Taylor Fritz makes statement win

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World no. 9 Taylor Fritz is off to a great start at the US Open. The home favorite faced fellow American Steve Johnson at Louis Armstrong Stadium, scoring a dominant 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 triumph in an hour and 20 minutes. Taylor served at 46%, but no one could witness that.

The 9th seed dropped six points behind the initial shot, including a perfect 23 from 23 display behind the first serve. While keeping his service games intact, Fritz grabbed 53% of the return points, turning them into seven breaks from nine opportunities and sailing over the finish line in no time.

Taylor fired 34 winners and ten unforced errors, taming his strokes efficiently and keeping the pressure on the other side. Johnson cracked an ace down the T line in the encounter's first game for a hold at 15. Taylor responded with a hold at 15 in game two after a service winner and showed his return skills in the next one.

Fritz broke Johnson at love after the rival's loose forehand, moving in front and gathering a boost.

Taylor Fritz proved too strong for Steve Johnson at the US Open.

Steve sprayed another forehand mistake in the fourth game, and Taylor brought it home at love to cement the advantage.

Fritz cracked a forehand winner in the fifth game, delivering another break and forging a 4-1 lead. The younger American held with a smash winner in the sixth game and served for the opener at 5-2. Taylor delivered another hold at love after a booming serve for 6-2 in a swift 23 minutes.

Steve squandered game points at the start of the second set and faced a break point. He saved it with a strong serve, bringing the game home to end his downfall. Fritz climbed back from 40-15 down in the third game and grabbed a break with a forehand crosscourt winner that pushed him ahead.

Taylor held at love a few minutes later and clinched another break to open a 6-2, 4-1 advantage. Fritz painted a forehand crosscourt winner in the sixth game, forcing the opponent to serve to stay in the set at 1-5. The 9th seed grabbed his third break in a row, opening a 6-2, 6-1 advantage in 51 minutes and racing toward the top.

Taylor constructed four commanding holds in the third set, and Steve could not follow that pace. Johnson netted a forehand in the second game to fall behind before serving well in games four and six to remain within one break deficit.

Taylor held at love in game seven, moving 5-2 up and sealing the deal with a backhand down the line return winner a few minutes later.