World no. 4 Taylor Fritz means business in Melbourne! Last year's Australian Open quarter-finalist is through to the third round at the first Major of the season after dropping eight games in the opening six sets!
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The American faced Cristian Garin in the second round on Margaret Court Arena and earned a commanding 6-2, 6-1, 6-0 triumph in an hour and 22 minutes. The favorite fired eight aces and dropped 16 points in his games. Fritz faced no break points and kept the pressure on the other side.
A qualifier could not match those numbers or even come close to them! Garin dropped over half of the points in his games and suffered seven breaks from seven opportunities presented to world no. 4.
Fritz landed 24 winners and 20 unforced errors while welcoming over 30 unforced mistakes from his pale opponent. The American dominated the shortest exchanges and outplayed the Chilean in the more extended ones to emerge at the top in no time.
Taylor provided four comfortable holds in the opening set and grabbed two return games. The US Open finalist clinched the third game of the opener with a forehand winner and stepped in on the return in the next one.
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Garin missed a game point and netted a routine forehand on the second break point to fall 3-1 behind. The American provided fine holds in games five and seven for a 5-2 advantage. World no. 4 made another push on the return in game eight.
He landed a volley winner at the net for a break at love, securing the opener 6-2 in 28 minutes. Fritz mirrored that performance in the second set, sailing through his service games and stealing the rival's serve two times.
Cristian squandered two game points in the second game and sprayed a backhand error to lose serve and fall behind. Taylor presented more fine returns in the fourth game, forcing the rival's mistake and earning a break at love for a 4-0 lead.
The American fired a smash winner in game seven, opening a 6-2, 6-1 lead in 58 minutes and moving closer to the finish line.Garin lost the ground in the third set and faded from the court. He hit a double fault in the first game and dropped serve.
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World no. 4 climbed back from 0-40 in the third game and delivered another break for a 3-0 lead. Fritz forged a 4-0 advantage with a forehand winner. Not stopping there, Taylor cracked a forehand down the line winner in the fifth game for another break.
He served for the win at 5-0 and landed an ace for a hold at 15, sailing into the last 32. World no. 4 will face Gael Monfils in the third round and be the favorite against an in-form veteran.
