New York: Taylor Fritz began his US Open campaign with a straight sets victory over fellow American Darwin Blanch on September 1. The ninth seed beat 18 year old Blanch 6 to 3, 6 to 2, 6 to 4 in their first round match at Arthur Ashe Stadium, finishing the contest in one hour and 40 minutes.

Fritz, who is the highest ranked American man in the tournament, controlled the match with a strong serving performance. He hit 14 aces and won 91 percent of points behind his first serve, while Blanch recorded one ace and nine double faults.

The first set stayed competitive until Fritz secured a break to take a 4 to 2 lead and went on to win the set 6 to 3. He broke Blanch twice in the second set to win 6 to 2, before an early break in the third helped him secure a 6 to 4 victory.

Despite the result, Blanch produced several notable moments during his first round appearance. The 18 year old received a wild card for the main draw after winning the Boys’ 18 National Championship in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He also reached the US Open main draw for the second consecutive year.

Fritz entered the tournament with his best US Open result coming in 2024, when he reached the final before losing to Jannik Sinner. He also arrives in New York after winning the Washington Open, where he defeated Rafael Jodar in the final.

Following his victory, Fritz acknowledged the difficulty of facing a young American player on a major stage and said he believed Blanch had not produced his best tennis during the match.

The victory moves Fritz into the second round, keeping alive his bid to improve on his previous best result at Flushing Meadows. He will face Italy’s Mattia Bellucci, who advanced after defeating Zsombor Piros, in his next match.