Taylor Fritz finished the round-robin stage at the ATP Finals in Turin with a 2-1 score. The American faced Alex de Minaur in the final group match and scored a 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 victory in two hours and eight minutes. Fritz is now waiting for tonight's match between Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev to see if he willqualify for the semi-final.
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Fritz's performance in numbers
The American claimed ten points more than the Aussie, losing a tight opener and turning the tables with a solid performance in sets two and three. Both players dominated with the first serve and struggled behind the second. Taylor denied four of six break points and claimed three breaks from six opportunities, making the difference with a single break in the decider.
Fritz landed 26 winners and 23 unforced errors, andde Minaur responded with a 27-26 ratio. The better server forged a massive advantage in service winners, hitting 15 more than his opponent and compensating for the deficit from the baseline. De Minaur had the upper hand in the most advanced exchanges. However, he trailed big time in the shortest ones up to four strokes.
De Minaur breaks two times in the opening set and builds the advantage
They started the action with six comfortable holds. The Aussie claimed a 30-stroke exchange in the seventh game of the duel and drew the rival's mistake for a break. The American kept his focus and pulled it back at 15 in the next one, locking the result at 4-4.
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World no. 5 suffered another break in the 11th game, falling 6-5 behind and allowing his opponent to clinch the opener with an ace in game 12.
Fritz survives the second set and closes it with a late break
Alex created a break chance at the beginning of the second set, hoping to open a set and a break advantage. However, he netted a routine backhand and missed an opportunity. The Aussie left that chance behind and produced three comfortable holds before making another push on the return at 3-3. Taylor denied a break point with a service winner, getting himself out of jail.
World no. 5 held at love in the ninth game with a powerful serve and made a push on the return in the next one. Fritz generated three set points after de Minaur's loose backhand and welcomed a loose forehand from his rival on the third, taking the set 6-4 and forcing a decider after an hour and 32 minutes.
Taylor takes charge in the middle of the third set and wins
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Carried by this boost, the American landed a forehand winner in the fourth game of the final set, delivering a break and opening a 3-1 gap. He saved a break point in the next one with a crafty serve and held to extend the gap. Taylor served for the win at 5-3 and produced a hold at love with a service winner to seal the deal and emerge at the top.
