Taylor Fritz is confronting increasing pressure as he approaches the 2025 US Open, scheduled from August 24 to September 7 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City. Following a close defeat to Jannik Sinner in last year’s final, the World No. 4 American now faces not just physical competition, but a significant mental test as expectations mount.
The spotlight is on Fritz due to his runner-up finish in 2024, and experts like former tennis pro Steve Johnson have weighed in on the challenges Fritz may encounter beyond just his on-court skills.
Insights from Steve Johnson on Fritz’s Prospects and Mental Barriers
During a recent appearance on the ‘Nothing Major’ podcast, Steve Johnson expressed his interest in Fritz’s upcoming performance at the US Open, showing confidence in Fritz’s capabilities. Johnson emphasized that the technical aspects of Fritz’s game do not seem to be a major concern.
I’m interested to see how Taylor goes to the Open. I mean, that’s going to be happening in a couple of weeks. He made the finals last year. I don’t see any issues for him,
Johnson said.
However, Johnson pointed out that the mental strain might be Fritz’s greatest obstacle, particularly the pressure stemming from last year’s close finish. The lingering effects of nerves or heightened expectations, while not guaranteed to affect Fritz, could present a challenge.
Maybe there’s some residual or lingering effects of maybe nerves or expectations since he made a final last year that he might struggle to deal with, which I don’t think he will, but that could be a problem,
he added.
Performance Review: Fritz’s Lead-Up on North American Hard Courts
Leading into the US Open, Fritz’s form on North American hard courts has been strong but marked by some setbacks. His preparation started at the 2025 Citi DC Open, where he entered as the top seed and received a bye in the opening round. He secured straight-set victories against Aleksandar Vukic and Matteo Arnaldi, before his run ended in the quarterfinals against 12th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who went on to reach the final.
Fritz then shifted to the 2025 Canadian Open, seeded second, where he again bypassed the first round. He won successive matches against Roberto Carballés Baena, Gabriel Diallo, and Jiří Lehečka. The American continued to impress by defeating sixth seed Andrey Rublev in the quarterfinals but fell to Ben Shelton in the semifinals, who would eventually claim the title.
Most recently at the 2025 Cincinnati Open, Fritz carried the fourth seed into action, overcoming Emilio Nava and Lorenzo Sonego in straight sets. However, his campaign was cut short after a surprising third-round loss to qualifier Térence Atmane.
Context of Last Year’s Final Run and the Road Ahead
Fritz’s 2024 US Open performance was a breakthrough, where he overcame several top players including Camilo Ugo Carabelli, Matteo Berrettini, Francisco Comesaña, Casper Ruud, Alexander Zverev, and Frances Tiafoe before falling narrowly to Jannik Sinner in the final. This marked a significant milestone in his career and raised expectations for his follow-up.
As the 2025 US Open approaches, the focus shifts heavily to how Fritz manages the mental pressures accompanying his recent success. The tournament will test not only his physical stamina but also his ability to handle the psychological weight of favoritism and previous near-victory.
If Fritz can maintain composure and harness his experience from recent tournaments on hard courts, he could overcome the mental challenge and contend seriously for the Grand Slam title. His ongoing development in both skill and mindset will be critical in overcoming this pivotal phase in his career.