Taylor Fritz started his second ATP Finals campaign in Turin with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over world no. 4 Daniil Medvedev in an hour and 20 minutes. The American secured his 50th victory of the season, taking charge from 4-4 in the opening set and adding 200 ATP points to his tally. Taylor will now face Jannik Sinner and Alex de Minaur, with his chances of reaching the semi-final rising drastically if he tops the Aussie.
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Taylor outplays Daniil in every segment
Fritz dominated with his first serve, firing 21 service winners and keeping his second serve under control. He denied all three break points and kept the pressure on the other side. Medvedev lost the ground behind the second set, spraying eight double faults and getting broken once in each set. The Russian threw tantrums after disliking his level, throwing racquets and almost trying to return with a grip. He destroyed a microphone and received a point penalty after the sixth game of the second set. Taylor hit 21 winners and 14 unforced errors, leaving his opponent on a 15-22 ratio. While nothing separated them in the mid-range and most advanced exchanges, the American forged a decisive 46-29 lead in the shortest ones up to four strokes.
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Fritz makes a push in the closing stages of the opening set
They stayed neck and neck in the opening eight games, with no chances for the returners. Taylor closed the third game at love with a forehand winner and cracked another two games later for a 3-2 advantage. He attacked in the sixth game and reached deuces before Daniil completed it with a powerful serve, remaining on the positive side. Fritz stayed composed on serve in the next game, landing a forehand winner and moving 4-3 in front. They served well in the next two games, with Medvedev needing another fine hold at 4-5. Instead, he experienced a meltdown and hit three consecutive double faults at 30-15, allowing his opponent to wrap up the set 6-4 in 40 minutes.
Taylor overcomes a slow start in the second set and seals the deal
Fritz faced issues at the beginning of the second set, playing against two break points in the opening game. He saved them, the second with a 31-stroke rally, holding and keeping his initial shot intact. Medvedev wasted another break chance in the third game and would feel the pressure by the end of the duel. Daniil faced two break points in the fourth game, denying them with winners and remaining on the positive side. Taylor made another push on the return in the sixth game and landed a forehand lob winner for a break and a 4-2 advantage. The Russian received a point penalty ahead of the seventh game, and the American held at love to cement the advantage. Daniil held after a deuce in the eighth game to extend the battle before Taylor moved over the top with another hold at love at 5-3, forcing the rival's mistake and sealing the deal in style.
