The hopes of American men’s tennis rest on the shoulders of Taylor Fritz today. Battling World No. 1 Jannik Sinner in a tough battle at the US Open final, the American No. 1 would be looking to break a two-decade long title drought. Since Andy Roddick won the US Open in 2003, no American man has won a Grand Slam. Roddick was also the last one in a final in 2009 at Wimbledon, where he lost to Roger Federer. But Andre Agassi believes Fritz is up next, and reiterates an iconic Billie Jean King quote.

Appearing at the US Open and returning to tennis after years, the 2x USO champion played in the Fan Week preceding the main event. Teaming up with Carlos Alcaraz against John McEnroe and Novak Djokovic, it was a ‘Stars of the Open’ night to witness. Imagine, 43 Grand Slam titles between the four of them! But now all that is done and dusted, and it’s the final night of the US Open. Andre Agassi has his hopes pinned on Fritz, as any other American tennis fan.

In his latest Instagram post, the tennis veteran poses with Billie Jean King at the entrance of Arthur Ashe Stadium. They stand in front of the wall that every player who steps foot on these hardcourts sees. “Pressure is a privilege,” the wall says. Agassi and King stand with their hands joined and look at the camera with big smiles on their faces. The caption of Agassi’s post reads, “Her words ❤️ tonight’s the night…”

Indeed, tonight is the night. Andy Roddick is in the audience at Ashe to maybe finally see the unwanted record last set by him broken. Even if Fritz loses tonight, at least an American made it to the final. Playing against the No. 1 player in the world might bring with it a certain nervousness for Fritz. The two players’ head-to-head stands at an equal 1-1, so really, the match can go either way. But what’s to be remembered here are BJK’s words. Even Sinner echoed them when he won the Australian Open earlier this year.

Billie Jean King has a book by the same title, Pressure is a Privilege: Lessons I’ve Learned from Life and the Battle of the Sexes. It recounts her life journey and sounds like a well-thought quote. But in reality, BJK simply said it in a moment of encouragement to Lindsey Davenport in the 90s!

In the final of the 2000 Fed Cup, now known as the Billie Jean King Cup, King was the captain of the team which had Lindsay Davenport, Monica Seles, Jennifer Capriati, and Lisa Raymond. As Davenport prepared to face former world No. 1 Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, she was understandably nervous about an opponent that had never gone easy on her.

Looking up to the captain for mentorship, Davenport told King to ‘Just say something!’ And the tennis legend, ever-wise, said, “Pressure is a privilege, and champions adjust.” In a video explaining the origin of this iconic line, King reveals, “It just came out of my mouth like that. I never even thought of it, but I loved it.”

Davenport ended up beating Vicario that day and King’s Team USA ultimately won the Cup against Spain. Years later, Davenport still remembers it as she wrote on X, “Of course I remember Billie. But seriously, Billie changed everything for me in believing in me when I didn’t yet believe in myself. She changed my life.”

Now decades have passed, and this quote adorns the main court of the USTA Billie Jean King Center at the most important tennis tournament in the country. As Fritz fights for the title crown, “Pressure is a Privilege” is a quote that might stay in his mind as well. And with King and Agassi sending words of encouragement his way, the 26-year-old will be pumped to take on the challenge.

Talking about Agassi though, he has been away from the courts for decades, but the American legend smashed it at the Fan Week event recently!

Despite losing, Carlos Alcaraz and Andre Agassi make the most of Stars of the Open

The team of John McEnroe and Novak Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz and Andre Agassi almost easily, but it was still a night to remember. “For me, it’s a privilege to play this match, obviously I’m not used to seeing [Agassi and McEnroe] around so I’m a lucky guy, trying to learn from the legends,” Alcaraz said. “I try to enjoy every moment, that is why I have a smile from ear to ear.”

Mic’ed up from beginning to end, the four players seemed to have the time of their lives on the court. We have seen Djokovic and Alcaraz and what they’re capable of in recent years. But even though Agassi and McEnroe have not played actively for a long time, the two traded friendly barbs and shots like they were never away.

A number of stars have graced the court these last three weeks in Flushing. As the tournament comes to a close today, the home crowd roars for Taylor Fritz. Whether or not he wins, he knows he has the support of his people.