Taylor Fritz Battles Past Kym to Reach US Open Fourth Round
What a night it was at the US Open, as Taylor Fritz kept American hopes alive with a hard-fought win against Swiss qualifier Jérôme Kym. Under the lights at Louis Armstrong Stadium, Fritz, the No. 4 seed, delivered the kind of gritty performance that fans had been waiting for, especially on a day when two other American stars, Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton, were eliminated earlier. The pressure was heavy, but Fritz managed to shoulder it, coming through in four sets, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4.
This was not just another routine win. The match stretched over three hours and was a true test of composure. Fritz faced his biggest hurdle in the second set when, after holding three set points in the tiebreak, he let the opportunity slip and handed the set to Kym. That moment could have derailed his rhythm, but instead, Fritz regrouped, tightened his game, and pushed ahead with his trademark power serving. By the end of the night, he had tallied 20 aces and won a commanding 84 percent of points on his first serve. Those numbers tell the story of a player who knew he had to dictate from the baseline and did just that.
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But credit must also go to Kym, who, ranked only 175th in the world, walked into one of the sport’s grandest arenas and played fearless tennis. At just 22 years old, the Swiss player refused to be overawed. He hit 41 winners, fought toe-to-toe with Fritz in rallies, and even turned sections of the American crowd to his side with his fearless attitude. Despite battling through five matches already, including a grueling five-set victory over Brandon Nakashima earlier in the tournament, Kym kept the tension alive right until the end. The fans gave him a standing ovation for his courage, and it was well deserved.
The turning point came late in the third set when Fritz finally broke serve for the first time, going up 4-3. From there, the momentum swung. Kym required treatment on his shoulder after the third set, and while he fought back bravely, the edge had shifted. Fritz, locked in and refusing to blink, closed the match with his 20th ace—a fitting exclamation point to a night of heavy serving and relentless effort.
Now, Fritz advances to the round of 16, where he will face Czech player Tomas Machac, the No. 21 seed. Machac has been flawless so far, winning every match in straight sets, including his dominant win over Ugo Blanchet. That sets up a clash between two in-form players. Fritz does have confidence on his side, having beaten Machac in both of their previous meetings, including earlier this year at the United Cup.
For American fans, this victory felt like a much-needed lift. Fritz once again showed why he is considered the country’s brightest hope in men’s tennis. And for Kym, even in defeat, this performance may be remembered as his breakthrough moment on the biggest stage.
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