Nick Kyrgios has shut down a claim that Taylor Fritz is not as hyped up within American tennis circles by revealing that the US Open star opts to snub playing on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Kyrgios responded to a post by a tennis journalist who had pointed out that Fritz had made back-to-back quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows without being picked to play on Arthur Ashe.
Fritz will play in the last-eight at the US Open after beating Casper Ruud on Louis Armstrong on Sunday. The 26-year-old has played all four of his matches on the court, rather than on the main 23,000-capacity Arthur Ashe.
Theories have been raised that Fritz is being snubbed for Arthur Ashe action, with the likes of American colleagues Frances Tiafoe, Ben Shelton and Coco Gauff. Journalist Jose Morgado put forward the view that Fritz is ‘less hyped’ than other local players.
However, Kyrgios insists that is not the case and that Fritz actually prefers to play on Louis Amstrong over Arthur Ashe. The 29-year-old quote-retweeted Morgado’s tweet and said: “Incorrect. Requests that court.”
American former world No. 1 Andy Roddick confirmed that stance, responding: “He’s repeatedly said he prefers Armstrong and requests Armstrong.”
Fritz is into his second US Open quarter-final and faces Alexander Zverev tomorrow (Tuesday) for a place in the last-four. He insists he is taking each match at a time, having gone into the tournament in 2022 saying he could win the Grand Slam, only to lose in the first round.
His renewed mentality sees him into a successive quarter-final in the final major of a positive year. He also reached the Wimbledon and Australian Open quarter-finals.
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“I think last time I went into the U.S. Open in 2022 saying I think that I’m a contender and I can win, I lost in the first round,” Fritz said.
“Obviously, the draw, it’s impossible to not know that there’s more of an opportunity with how the draw has opened up. It’s still the same as it’s been for me. Take it one match at a time. Worry about the person that’s in front of me, and we’ll go from there.
“But it’s been a good week so far. The success in slams has been nice, but I am a little bit sick of just making it to the quarterfinals, and I definitely want to go further.”
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