Taylor Fritz has promised that Novak Djokovic will have a tough time playing against him in the Australian Open third round on Friday night.
The young American will compete in the Australian Open third round for the third straight year, always facing a formidable rival in the battle for the last 16.
After Roger Federer and Dominic Thiem, Taylor will now face the eight-time Melbourne champion Novak Djokovic on Friday night, in their first meeting since 2019.
Djokovic won two matches against Fritz on clay that spring, and the American is hoping for a more positive outcome in a couple of hours, eager to play aggressive tennis as he has nothing to lose against the 17-time Major champion.
In the previous round, Taylor needed four hours and seven minutes to dismiss his good friend Reilly Opelka 4-6, 7-6, 6-7, 7-6, 6-2, staying composed in the fourth set’s closing stages and gaining a massive boost ahead of decider where he outplayed the rival to reach the last 32.
Novak had to dig deep as well, overpowering Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 6-7, 7-6, 6-3 in three and a half hours, struggling under a boiling Melbourne sun and hoping for a better run during the night session versus Fritz.
“It’s a Novak Djokovic clash at the Australian Open. But for me, I’m just going to have to play my best tennis. Luckily for me and my game, I possess the ability to serve well enough to where I won’t get broken, and I can be extremely aggressive on the groundstrokes and take control if I’m on.
“I have to do everything I possibly can in the next couple of days to give myself the best chance of playing my best tennis. It’s another chance to prove myself. I keep making third rounds and having tough opponents, but that’s what happens when you are a 25 to 32 seed.
“You are guaranteed to play a top-eight player. This is my third year in a row in the third round here in Melbourne, and my third round opponents have been Roger, Dominic and now Novak. It’s just another chance to prove myself.
“I’ve got nothing to lose, and I’m going to go out and have a lot of fun and play aggressive tennis and see what I can do,” Taylor Fritz said.