The top seed Taylor Fritz made a winning start at the ATP 500 event in Dallas. The top-ranked American played against Arthur Rinderknech in the first round and delivered a 6-4, 6-2 victory in 66 minutes.
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World no. 4 dropped seven points in his games, producing one good hold after another and keeping his rival away from break chances. Rinderknech could not follow that pace. The Frenchman claimed only six points behind the second serve and faced nine break points.
Taylor seized three, controlling the scoreboard and sailing over the top. Helanded 21 winners and 11 unforced errors. He hit 21 unreturned serves and dominated from the baseline en route to a rock-solid victory.
Taylor provided five comfortable holds in the first set and pressured his opponent. Arthur denied three break points in the second game and avoided an early setback. The US Open finalist left those chances behind and landed an ace in game three for a 2-1 lead.
They served well in the upcoming games and remained neck and neck. Rinderknech fired a powerful serve in the eighth game and locked the result at 4-4. The home star produced a hold at 15 in the ninth game and made a push on the return in the next one.
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Arthur hit a double fault and faced two set points. World no. 4 seized the first with a forced error, delivering a crucial break and wrapping up the opener 6-4 in 34 minutes. The better-ranked playerserved well in the second set and overpowered his rival on the return.
The American secured the third game with an ace and grabbed a break in the next one after drawing the Frenchman's error. Taylor cemented the lead with a hold at 15 in game five and earned three break points in the next one.
Arthur denied them and remained within one break deficit. Fritz held at 30 in the seventh game and made another push on the return in the next one. The top seed grabbed a break at 5-2 to move over the top in style and reach the last 16.
