Fritz reaches U.S. Open third round as American men show depth

Taylor Fritz advanced to the third round of the U.S. Open on Wednesday at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, beating Lloyd Harris in four sets and extending a run of strong performances by American men as the final Grand Slam of the year moves into its second week in New York. Fritz, the No. 4 seed and last year’s runner up, defeated Harris 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-2, 6-4 and will face Swiss qualifier Jerome Kym next.

Fritz opened the tournament with a straight-sets victory over wildcard Emilio Nava, 7-5, 6-2, 6-3, then survived a middling second set against Harris before asserting control. He called the U.S. Open the most important tournament for Americans and said the current crop of U.S. men, including Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe and Tommy Paul, are closer than they have been in years to ending a decades-long Grand Slam drought.

"We have a really strong group," Fritz said. "We're closer, the closest we've been in a long time." U.S. Davis Cup captain Bob Bryan said the players feed off one another. "They see themselves making the final of a Grand Slam now. It is not unattainable," he said.

Shelton, who opened his campaign with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 win over qualifier Ignacio...