Taylor Fritz accepts he will be ‘absolutely roasted’ as he chooses between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz

American star Taylor Fritz was in a jovial mood after winning his opening-round match at the US Open, the fourth seed beating Emilio Nava in straight sets on Sunday in New York. But with little to discuss after a relatively routine victory that lasted less than two hours, Fritz was asked his opinion on the Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz rivalry, and who he thought was ultimately the best…

Taylor Fritz raced through his opening-round match at the US Open, beating compatriot Emilio Nava 7-5 6-2 6-3 in just under two hours.

It was a routine win for the fourth seed, who made the final last season and is looking to go one better as he seeks a maiden Grand Slam title. 

Jannik Sinner is the top seed in the men’s draw, followed by Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev and Fritz. The American is on Alcaraz’s side of the draw, but cannot meet the Spaniard until the semi-finals, although he is in the same quarter as a certain Novak Djokovic. 

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Despite being at a career-high ranking, Fritz, like everyone in the game, has his eye firmly on the rivalry dominating men’s tennis - Sinner versus Alcaraz.

Sinner has two Grand Slams this year to Alcaraz’s one, but the Spaniard leads the head-to-head between the duo by nine matches to five. The pair have shared the last seven Grand Slam titles.

Sinner also has more hard court Grand Slams than his rival, but arrived in New York off the back of retiring with illness in Cincinnati - while Alcaraz has played himself into a rich vein of form as he aims for a second US Open title. 

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Alcaraz has one more Grand Slam than Sinner, five to the Italian’s four. They have contested the final of the last two Grand Slams, winning one apiece. 

"You're trying to get me absolutely roasted by one of their fan bases," Fritz joked when asked for his opinion on who was ultimately going to wind up with the best career. 

"You don't win. You can't win with this answer. I really don't know. It's impossible, impossible to say…"

The American was eventually persuaded to give his opinion - and it is one many might be inclined to agree with. 

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"I think Jannik and his results have been more consistent, but I think the high end of Carlos is, like, probably the highest level that you're going to see when Carlos is on. 

"So don't make me get destroyed by one of their fan [bases]... I'm good!"

Given Alcaraz is just 22-years-old and Sinner 24, tennis fans should be gifted many more spectacular matches from the pair for years to come.

So only time will tell if Fritz’s assessment is accurate, but the American certainly was not too keen to nail his colours to the mast this early in the tournament. 

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