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Fritz tennis match
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Taylor Fritz beat Mattia Bellucci 6-0, 6-1, 6-1 at the US Open. The 2024 runner-up advances to face Francisco Cerundolo in round three.
Background
Fritz is the American No. 9 seed aiming to become the first U.S. man to win a Grand Slam since Andy Roddick in 2003. He reached the 2024 US Open final and has been in strong form, with a 13-2 record on hard courts against players ranked outside the top 50 this year.
How it unfolded
- Sep 1, 2026Fritz defeated Darwin Blanch 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in the first round, winning 91% of first-serve points.
- Sep 3, 2026Fritz routed Mattia Bellucci 6-0, 6-1, 6-1 in 98 minutes, saving all three break points and converting seven of 14.
- Sep 4, 2026Fritz is scheduled to face Francisco Cerundolo in the third round at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Fritz said he felt 'very confident' and 'didn't have many nerves,' playing aggressively throughout the match.
- Analysts
- Tennis Abstract gave Fritz an 82.8% win probability against Bellucci, and his shot quality ratings are significantly higher.