Fritz triumphs in final match of the day, Advances to US Open Round of 16 vs. Machac

Taylor Fritz delivered a much-needed jolt of hope for American tennis on Friday night, closing Day 6 at the US Open with a victory that brought a sense of relief to the fans. On a night that saw the early departures of two of the country’s biggest stars, Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton, Fritz, the No. 4 seed, provided a late-night spectacle and a source of cheer, grinding out a four-set victory over a tenacious Swiss qualifier, Jerome Kym.

In a match that stretched beyond three hours and required every bit of his focus, Fritz prevailed, 7-6 (3), 6-7 (9), 6-4, 6-4. He faced a moment of frustration after holding, and then losing, three set points in the second-set tiebreak, but he managed to overcome it to win the match. Fritz now moves on to the fourth round, a place he has become accustomed to at Grand Slam tournaments. Fritz’s next opponent will be the Czech Tomas Machac, the No. 21 seed, who won his third-round match in dominant fashion, dispatching Ugo Blanchet in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3, 6-1.

Fritz – Machac

The match between Fritz and Kym was a battle of wills, marked by powerful serves and decisive hitting. Fritz, 27, was a model of consistency from the service line. He delivered 20 aces and won an impressive 84 percent of his first-serve points. His second serve, a frequent point of pressure for many players, also held firm, with Fritz winning 62 percent of those points. His serve alone accounted for 96 points, a statistical reflection of how he controlled the match’s rhythm.

Kym, a 22-year-old ranked No. 175, refused to be intimidated by the moment. He showcased a fearless game, hitting 41 winners to Fritz’s 55. He was also solid on his first serve, winning 80 percent of those points, but he struggled to maintain that efficiency on his second serve, winning just 56 percent of the time. The difference in those margins proved critical.

“He’s a very solid player,” Fritz said. “He served big when it mattered and didn’t give me a lot of rhythm. It was a tough, tough match, and I’m just happy to get through it.”

Impressive Kym

This was Fritz’s third consecutive victory at this year’s US Open. He began his campaign with a hard-fought win over South African qualifier Lloyd Harris before dispatching American wildcard Emilio Nava in a more straightforward contest. Kym’s journey to the third round was equally impressive, as he had upset the No. 30 seed, Brandon Nakashima, in a five-set thriller before outlasting fellow American Ethan Quinn.

Fritz’s next opponent, Tomas Machac, is a serious contender who has yet to drop a set since the start of the tournament. His victory on Friday showcased his aggressive style, as he hit 39 winners, served six aces, and was ruthless on break points, converting seven of his nine opportunities. While Machac is in red-hot form, Fritz will take confidence from their head-to-head record, having won both of their previous matches, including a 2025 United Cup semifinal.

New York (Grand Slam), other third-round results (USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, hard, USD 90.000.000, most recent results first):

• Alexander Bublik vs. Tommy Paul
• Alexander Zverev vs. Felix Auger-Aliassime
• Daniel Altmaier vs. Alex De Minaur
• Kamil Majchrzak vs. Leandro Riedi
• Jannik Sinner vs. Denis Shapovalov
• Jaume Munar vs. Zizou Bergs
• Chak Lam Coleman Wong vs. Andrey Rublev
• Lorenzo Musetti vs. Flavio Cobolli
• Tomas Machac beat Ugo Blanchet (Q): 7-5, 6-3, 6-1
• Novak Djokovic (7) beat Cameron Norrie: 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-3
• Jan-Lennard Struff (Q) beat Frances Tiafoe (17): 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (7)
• Adrian Mannarino beat Ben Shelton (6): 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 ret.
• Carlos Alcaraz (2) beat Luciano Darderi (32): 6-2, 6-4, 6-0
• Arthur Rinderknech beat Benjamin Bonzi: 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2
• Jiri Lehecka (20) beat Raphael Collignon: 6-4, 6-4, 6-4