NEW YORK – Taylor Fritz, thought to be one of the favorites to break the American men's streak of not winning a Grand Slam championship since 2003, went down in defeat in the third round at the US Open to Francisco Cerúndolo of Argentina, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
It now will be left to the six American men left in the singles tournament as they try to break a string of futility on the sport’s highest stages and win big since Andy Roddick was triumphant at Flushing Meadows two decades ago.
Fritz won the first two sets with little trouble, using his powerful ace to get out of trouble and avoid break points. He won the first game of the third set before Cerúndolo turned it on and let the No. 9 seed self-destruct on his own, filling up games with unforced
errors and timely shots, scoring winners.
Up 4-3 and 40-0 with a chance to break and then serve for the match, Fritz couldn't maintain the momentum; Cerúndolo held his serve, then put him away with a forehand winner and another Fritz error.
When it was Cerúndolo's chance to end the match, Fritz was again up, this time 30-0, and let it slip away again, and the three-hour, 40-minute match ended with Fritz's 54th and final unforced error.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Taylor Fritz upset by Francisco Cerúndolo in third round at US Open
