Taylor Fritz Confident About Winning US Open Mixed Doubles with Elena Rybakina: “We’re One of the Favorites”

Elena Rybakina has scheduled a fourth-round clash with reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys in Cincinnati.

Taylor Fritz Confident About Winning US Open Mixed Doubles with Elena Rybakina: “We’re One of the Favorites”

Elena Rybakina, Taylor Fritz (Image via X/US Open Tennis, ATP Tour)

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Taylor Fritz is chasing his second Masters 1000 of his career in Cincinnati. He knocked out Emilio Nava and Lorenzo Sonego to schedule a fourth-round match against Terence Atmane, who went past Brazilian sensation Joao Fonseca.

After Cincinnati, Fritz and the whole tennis world will be focusing on the last Major of the season- the US Open. Fritz was the runner-up last year, losing the final to World No.1 Jannik Sinner.

This year, the 27-year-old is also participating in mixed doubles. As the US Open has revamped its mixed doubles format, top singles players have decided to sign up for it. Sinner will be playing alongside Emma Navarro, while his arch-rival Carlos Alcaraz has joined forces with Emma Raducanu.

Fritz will be playing with Elena Rybakina. Following his third-round match, he sat for an interview with the Tennis Channel and was asked about his thoughts on playing with the Kazakh ace.

I really do think we’re one of the favorites. I mean, we have a you know have mixed doubles title already, if you want to call it tie break 10, you know. So I thought we played great there, and yeah, I’m excited for this format. I think I would love to play mixed doubles regularly if it wasn’t, you know, coinciding with the singles, but yeah, the fact that we can play it before the week starts is amazing. I’m super excited.

Rybakina has played both doubles and mixed doubles in Grand Slam events. Although she participated in every Major in doubles, she has only played the mixed doubles once – at the 2021 Australian Open, along with compatriot Alexander Bublik. Fritz has also featured in every doubles event in Majors, but he played the mixed doubles at the US Open in 2014 and 2015.

He has lifted two titles this season- both on grass courts. He beat World No.3 Alexander Zverev in the Stuttgart Open final before winning his career’s fourth Eastbourne International title by defeating Jenson Brooksby.

Fritz has only one Masters 1000 title to his name. Back in 2022, he defeated 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal in the Indian Wells final. In Cincinnati, however, the 2024 US Open finalist has not yet reached a semifinal.

Elena Rybakina to play Madison Keys in the fourth round

Elena Rybakina has also booked a spot in the fourth round of the Cincinnati Open. In her previous round, she beat Elise Mertens and has scheduled a blockbuster clash with reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys, who lifted the Cincinnati title in 2019.

Elena Rybakina 1
Elena Rybakina (Image via X/Jimmie48 Photography)

Rybakina, on the other hand, has never progressed beyond the quarterfinals in the tournament. The 26-year-old is chasing her second title of the season after her victory at the Strasbourg Open.

I actually didn’t know that I’m going to play against her, but I mean, it’s a tough opponent again. We’ve been playing before, and it was always a tough battle, so I definitely need to improve my serve for this match and try to stay consistent. Fewer unforced errors, and yeah, try my best, and let’s see how it goes.

Elena Rybakina said during her on-court interview

Rybakina has played five matches against Keys, including in the fourth round of this year’s Australian Open. Keys holds a 3-2 head-to-head edge over the 2022 Wimbledon champion.

The 30-year-old has so far this season played two finals and won them. Before beating Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open final, she clinched the Adelaide International by defeating compatriot Jessica Pegula.

The winner between Rybakina and Keys will lock horns with Sabalenka or Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the quarterfinals. The three-time Grand Slam singles champion is playing the tournament as the defending champion (beat Pegula last year).

Also read: Darren Cahill Opens Up About Jannik Sinner’s Relentless Desire to “Show Up in Big Tournaments”