Taylor Fritz suffered a tough loss in Cincinnati just days before the US Open. He fell to fellow American Brandon Nakashima in the quarterfinals, 7-6(9), 4-6, 6-3, in a hard-fought match that lasted two hours and 13 minutes. After the match, a photo circulating on social media showed Fritz looking visibly devastated, with some fans saying he appeared to be in tears.
Taylor Fritz Spotted Dejected After Cincinnati Quarterfinal Exit to Nakashima as US Open Pressure Mounts
For Fritz, Cincinnati was a big chance to build momentum before the US Open. In the quarterfinals on Friday, he started off well and hit 14 aces, but Nakashima held his nerve to take the first-set tiebreak 11-9 after a 32-shot rally. Fritz fought back to win the second set and led 3-2 in the third, but Nakashima won the final four games to secure his spot in the semifinals against Frances Tiafoe.
Fritz had beaten Nakashima in the Washington semifinals just 20 days earlier. But Nakashima turned the tables in Cincinnati, ending Fritz’s chance for his first Masters 1000 title since Indian Wells in 2022.
Fans on social media were quick to react after footage showed Fritz in the cool-down room, sitting with his head down over an exercise bike. One supporter also wrote, “after watching little video of taylor crying at the cool down room, i cannot unsee that picture in my head now. like my boy truly wanted that… i hate cincinnati.”
— LaTeamFritz 🇺🇸 (@LaTeamFritz) August 22, 2026
The loss could sting even more for Fritz as many American men continue to make their mark. Just recently, 23-year-old Ben Shelton won his second Masters 1000 title in Montreal, while Fritz is still chasing his first Masters 1000 crown since 2022.
Fritz’s best result this year came at the Washington Open, where he won his first title of the season by beating Rafael Jodar in a rain-delayed final. He was also a runner-up in Dallas, Stuttgart, and Halle, falling to Shelton in the first two finals and Tiafoe in the latter. Overall, Fritz holds a 28-14 record this season.
Now, with the US Open draw looking wide open, the Americans have a major chance to end the 23-year wait since Andy Roddick’s 2003 triumph. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner is out, Carlos Alcaraz is returning after a four-month injury layoff, while Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev remain in the field. Even with those big names in the draw, the tournament still feels difficult to predict.
The main draw begins on August 30, with Fritz hoping to make a strong run in New York.
