What explains the extent of Fritz’s futility? In their previous 10 matches, which date back to 2019, he has managed to win just three sets, all at the Australian Open. When they played in this round in New York two years ago, Djokovic blitzed him, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4.
Fritz admits that it took him a long time just to feel like he was in the same league as the Serb.
“I think the first, almost like seven or eight times I played him, I probably just wasn’t a good-enough player to really have that much of a chance,” Fritz said on Sunday night.
I need to play more to win and not to lose, if that statement makes sense. Taylor Fritz
For Fritz, the biggest difference-maker, shot-wise, is Djokovic’s second serve. He can attack Fritz’s serve with his great return, but he doesn’t let Fritz do the same to him.
“I think what makes it tough is he serves well, he serves aggressive on second serves,” he said. “It’s tough to take advantage of his serve for how well he also returns and just is from the baseline.”
“He backs it up incredibly well with the serve. So it’s tough to sometimes get on him the way that he’s, I guess, getting on you with the return.”
