Fritz strengthens US Open title credentials in Bellucci rout

NEW YORK, Sept 3 : Taylor Fritz delivered another commanding performance to brush aside Mattia Bellucci 6-0 6-1 6-1 and reach the third round of the U.S. Open on Thursday, extending his emphatic start to the tournament without dropping a set.

Fritz is among a handful of contenders looking to end a 23-year American wait for a men's Grand Slam singles champion after Andy Roddick's Flushing Meadows triumph and the ninth seed has strengthened his position after his first two matches.

"I thought I played really well today. I came out and felt good from the beginning... I was very focused the whole match," Fritz told reporters after his 98-minute demolition job.

"It was a very high level for me... I don't know if I'd for sure say I'd put it up there as one of the best matches I've ever played, but things were definitely clicking for me. Things felt really good for me. I can't really nitpick.

"I'd nitpick a lot to come up with anything I did wrong, because I felt all the important parts of my game that make me feel I'm playing good tennis and feel confident, it was all working for me."

The 2024 runner-up barely gave his unseeded Italian opponent any chances to settle as he dictated terms from the baseline and raced through the opening set in 35 minutes without conceding a game on the main showcourt.

A timely ace in a tight game helped world number 95 Bellucci open his account in the next set but it was all Fritz from there as the 28-year-old home favourite reeled off games to double his lead in the match.

Bellucci was unable to alter the pattern of the clash in the third set as Fritz remained in control, sealing another easy win to set up a meeting with 24th seed Francisco Cerundolo and keep his bid for a maiden Grand Slam title on