US Open 2024: Taylor Fritz vs Casper Ruud preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (8) Casper Ruud vs (12) Taylor Fritz
Date: Sunday, September 1, 2024
Tournament: US Open 2024
Round: Fourth Round (Round of 16)
Venue: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, New York, U.S.A.
Category: Grand Slam
Surface: Hard
Prize Money: $75,000,000
Live Telecast: USA - ESPN | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN, RDS | India - Sony Network
Taylor Fritz vs Casper Ruud preview
12th seed Taylor Fritz will take on eighth seed Casper Ruud in the fourth round of the US Open. The winner of the match will face either fourth seed Alexander Zverev or Brandon Nakashima in the quarterfinals.
Fritz has won 41 out of 57 matches so far in 2024, winning two titles. The American started the US Open 2024 with a 7-5, 6-1, 6-2 win over Camilo Ugo Carabelli. He followed this up with a 6-3, 7-6(1), 6-1 win over Matteo Berrettini to set up a third-round clash against Francisco Comesana.
Solitary breaks in the first two sets saw the American take a comfortable lead in the match before dominating the third set to register a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win and ensure that he has made at least the fourth round at all four Grand Slams this season.
Casper Ruud has produced some fine performances so far in 2024, winning 47 out of 61 matches so far. The Norwegian won his maiden ATP 500 title at the Barcelona Open before winning the Geneva Open just weeks later.
Ruud entered the US Open on the back of a second-round exit at the Cincinnati Open, and started well with a 7-6(6), 6-2, 6-2 win over Bu Yunchaokete. He then faced the experienced Gael Monfils and beat him 6-4, 6-2, 2-6, 7-6(3).
The World No. 8 then took on Juncheng Shang and found himself two sets down, with the Chinese leading 7-6(1), 6-3. However, Ruud's level elevated from the third set and he staged a fine comeback to win 6-7(1), 3-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-1.
Taylor Fritz vs Casper Ruud head-to-head
Ruud leads 2-0 in the head-to-head between the two. Their most recent encounter came in the semifinals of this year's French Open, with the Norwegian winning 7-6(6), 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.
Taylor Fritz vs Casper Ruud odds
All odds sourced from BETMGM
Taylor Fritz vs Casper Ruud prediction
Fritz and Ruud are both quality players who are equally capable of coming out on top. While the Norwegian is yet to lose a match against the American, he did play a five-setter in the third round. The latter, meanwhile, has only played straight-set fixtures. So, that might give him a slight physical edge.
Taylor Fritz's first-serve numbers have been impressive during US Open 2024, as he has won 108 out of 129 points (83.7%), accumulating 23 aces. The 26-year-old has also produced 89 winners, which is higher than his unforced error count of 68.
Fritz is a powerful hitter and never shies away from playing his shots. He will aim to be aggressive from the start, especially on his service games.
While Ruud is best known for his clay-court prowess, he has a decent grass-court record so far in 2024, garnering 22 wins from 28 matches, reaching two finals. The Norwegian's record is better than that of Fritz on the surface in 2024 (16 out of 23).
Ruud's first-serve numbers at the US Open have not been as impressive compared to the American's, winning 155 out of 212 points (73.1%) and serving 31 aces. However, he has also served 14 double faults and will have to be careful not to produce too many of those.
Ruud has had a more offensive flavor to his game over the past two years and is capable of putting Fritz on the back-foot. The Norwegian's calmness may also come in handy as things could well get difficult for him at some point.
Fritz is a fine player on hard courts and will have the crowd on his side but if Ruud recovers well and is at his best, there is a fair chance of him coming out on top.
Pick: Ruud to win in three sets.