DC Open: American star Taylor Fritz claims his first title of the season

WASHINGTON — Taylor Fritz has been in this position before. Fritz, the No. 3 seed and world No. 9, was playing in his fourth ATP final of the year and third at the 500 level.

However, he lost the previous three and once again faced another stiff test against 19-year-old Spanish phenom Rafael Jodar in the Mubadala DC Open men’s singles final.

In a tightly contested match, Fritz dominated in the first-set tiebreak and converted one pivotal break in the second, closing out a 7-6 (2), 6-4 win, notching his 11th career ATP Tour title and first in Washington.

He is the first American man to win the DC Open since 2024 and only the fourth to do so since 2000, joining three-time champion Andy Roddick, James Blake and Sebastian Korda. It is Fritz’s first title above the 250 level since 2022 and first in the United States since Delray Beach in 2024.

Fittingly, the game that sealed Fritz’s title was also one of the toughest he faced on serve during the match. The final game lasted 8 minutes and 28 seconds as Fritz and Jodar exchanged multiple deuces and thunderous rallies, with Fritz fending off one of the only three break points he faced during the match. Meanwhile, Fritz was opportunistic and converted two of the three break opportunities he generated, including the pivotal minibreak in the first set tiebreak.

As Jodar’s shot sailed out, the weight of the rally and the moment immediately engulfed Fritz. He collapsed to the ground and left his headband by his side, reaching the top of the podium in what has been a rollercoaster season.

Fritz, 28, is the only player to appear in three ATP 500-level finals this year but also missed some time in the middle of the year while battling a knee injury. The 28-year-old American is one of the top servers on tour, with the second-highest serve rating, only trailing top-ranked Jannik Sinner.

Fritz’s serve was once again a strength in the final, posting six aces and a 62% first-serve percentage. He won 81% of first-serve points compared to Jodar’s 67%.

Now heading to the National Bank Open in Montreal, Fritz is the seventh seed and will have a quick turnaround for his next match.

This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Jacob Steinberg at jsteinberg@baltsun.com, 443-442-9445 and x.com/jacobstein23.

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