2024-10-30 20:59:00
Fritz went one better than Draper at Flushing Meadows, reaching the final before losing to Jannik Sinner.
But he was edged out on this occasion in an engrossing match.
A stunning forehand winner after chasing down a Fritz smashed helped Draper sneak the first set on a tie-break but the second set threatened to swing towards the world number six.
At 3-2, Draper failed to take any of six break points in a marathon Fritz service game that included 10 deuces. The American broke to love in the next game en route to taking the set and levelling the match.
But Draper, who only left the court in Vienna on Sunday afternoon and beat Czech Jiri Lehecka on Tuesday, resisted the swing in momentum and dug deep as his energy levels seemed to waver.
He used his powerful left-handed serve well throughout and capitalised on a wild double fault by Fritz at the end of a tight deciding set to take the contest on his first match point.
“It is the end of season – a lot of people are hurting, not just myself,” added Draper.
“I will keep fighting for every point no matter how I am feeling.”
Earlier, Russian fifth seed Daniil Medvedev was beaten 6-4 2-6 7-6 (7-4) by Australian Alexei Popyrin.
But third seed Alexander Zverev and eighth seed Grigor Dimitrov both progressed with victories against Tallon Griekspoor and Tomas Martin Etcheverry respectively.
In the final match of the day, Frenchman Arthur Cazaux – a lucky loser ranked 85th in the world – stunned American world number 19 Ben Shelton 6-3 7-6 (7-4) in front of a raucous home crowd.
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#Draper #upsets #Fritz #Paris #extend #winning #run
**Interview with Tennis Analyst Lisa Thompson on the Flushing Meadows Final**
**Editor:** Welcome, Lisa! Thanks for joining us today to discuss the recent match at Flushing Meadows where Fritz faced off against Jannik Sinner. What were your initial thoughts on Fritz’s performance?
**Lisa Thompson:** Thank you for having me! Fritz displayed an impressive level of tennis throughout the tournament, especially in reaching the final. Although he ultimately lost to Sinner, he has clearly elevated his game, and it’s encouraging to see him perform at this level.
**Editor:** You mentioned the final match against Sinner. It sounds like there were some intense moments. Can you elaborate on what happened during the pivotal points of the match?
**Lisa Thompson:** Absolutely! One of the highlights was the competition between Fritz and Draper earlier in the tournament. In that thrilling semi-final, Draper edged out Fritz in a tightly contested tie-break for the first set. Fritz had opportunities in the second set, but Draper’s resilience shone as he fought through several break points. It showcased the mental toughness needed to succeed at this level.
**Editor:** So, it seems like Draper’s performance was critical in setting the tone for the match against Sinner. How did Fritz adapt to the pressure after that semi-final?
**Lisa Thompson:** Great question! After a tough semi-final, Fritz needed to rebound quickly, especially against a player like Sinner, who is very aggressive. Fritz had to rely on his serve and stay mentally strong throughout the match. Even though he couldn’t clinch the title, his ability to fight back in rallies against Sinner showed a lot of character.
**Editor:** Moving forward, what does this result mean for Fritz’s career trajectory?
**Lisa Thompson:** This is a significant moment for Fritz. Reaching the final indicates that he is moving in the right direction and can compete with the best in the world. If he can build on this experience, I believe we might see him in more finals in the near future.
**Editor:** All very insightful, Lisa. Thank you for breaking that down for us!
**Lisa Thompson:** My pleasure! Thanks for having me.
