Novak Djokovic is standing in the way of Taylor Fritz, who is the last remaining American in the men’s singles draw at the US Open.
Fritz reacted to Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe’s US Open exits, leaving the hopes of the nation on his shoulders in terms of the men’s singles draw.
However, he now faces a huge test against 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, who beat Jan-Lennard Struff to reach his 14th US Open quarterfinal.
Djokovic has been told he made a costly error leading into the US Open this year, and now Fritz has responded when asked if he thinks the Serbian has lost his locker room aura.
Taylor Fritz says if he thinks Novak Djokovic has lost his aura in the locker room
Djokovic has not won a major title since the 2023 US Open, with semifinal results at the three other Grand Slams this year.
This leaves the 38-year-old appearing more vulnerable than he has in years, and Fritz was asked in his post-match press conference if he thinks Djokovic has lost his aura.
Although Fritz admitted there is a change in the number of players that have beaten Djokovic, the American number one was adamant that the former world number one has not lost his aura.
“I wouldn’t say that the aura of Novak being Novak has worn off at all,” said Fritz. “No matter when he’s around, you’re going to acknowledge the fact that it’s Novak and he holds pretty much all the records in tennis. That’s never going to change.
“What’s different is that there have been some guys now that are coming up and able to beat him. I still think when he shows up to the slams, I think the level is still as much there as it was before.
“It doesn’t look like he’s more vulnerable than before. I look at it as the same, but I also look at it that I’ve improved a lot as a player.”
Taylor Fritz reveals if he is thinking about his poor head-to-head against Novak Djokovic
Fritz will be hoping that he can become the latest player to beat Djokovic, something he has never done before.
Djokovic has beaten Fritz in all 10 of their previous meetings, dropping just three sets, something he will be looking to change in their upcoming quarterfinal match at the US Open.
This is something Fritz was asked about, with Coco Gauff’s head-to-head against Iga Swiatek referenced.
Swiatek won 11 of the first 12 matches in their head-to-head, but now Gauff has managed to win their last three meetings.
While Fritz is aware of his head-to-head with Djokovic, he is trying not to think too much about it and believes he has shown in those previous matches that he can create opportunities to beat his upcoming opponent.
“I think the way to turn it around is to become a better player,” said Fritz. “I think Coco would probably say the same thing.
“She would probably tell me that she was just better at tennis when she started reversing the head-to-head.
“For me in my head I am not thinking about all the losses I had to Novak that were five years ago. I was nowhere near the level of player that I am now or what I’m thinking about fresh in my mind.
“When we played at the World Tour Finals in whatever year that was, maybe 2022. But that one and the one in Shanghai last year, in those ones I served for the set in the World Tour finals, I had set point serving in Shanghai.
“I know in the most recent matches that we have had there has been looks and I just have not been able to make it happen in the important moments of those matches, and that’s what makes the best guys the best guys. They are not going to give it to you in those moments, you have to go in and take it.”
Djokovic has beaten Fritz at the US Open before, but their last encounter came at the Shanghai Masters last year.
Fritz will be hoping to win his first match against Djokovic when they play their US Open quarterfinal on Tuesday, September 2.
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