World no. 4 Taylor Fritz will compete in his second Miami Open quarter-final. The home favorite faced world no. 89 Adam Walton in the fourth round and earned a 6-3, 7-5 victory in an hour and 34 minutes for a place in the last eight.
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Walton played his career-best ATP tournament, passing three obstacles before ending his campaign in the last 16. Taylor played well in the opener and denied three break points in the second set to mount the pressure on the other side.
The American kept his serve intact and converted two of ten break points, stealing the rival's serve once in each set to sail over the top.
World no. 4 brought the opening set home in 31 minutes following a fine display. Taylor drew Adam's mistake in the second game of the duel for two break points. Hepainted a backhand down the line winner on the first for a break at 15 and a 2-0 lead.
Fritz cemented the break with a hold in game three and landed another backhand winner two games later for a 4-1 advantage. The Aussie denied two break points in the sixth game and remained within one break deficit.
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The home player left those chances behind and clinched the seventh game at love with an unreturned serve for a 5-2 advantage. Fritz served for the opener at 5-3 and landed a service winner, wrapping up the first part of the duel in 31 minutes.
Waltonsaved a break point in the first game of the second set, avoiding an early setback. World no. 4 responded with an ace in game twoand created another break chance at 1-1. Adam denied it with a forehand winner and closed the game for a 2-1 lead.
Taylor hit a double fault in the fourth game and experienced a break point. The Aussie missed a routine forehand and a chance to move in front. Walton faced the ultimate challenge in game seven. He denied four break points and held after the rival's backhand error for more drama.
Taylor lost his focus a bit after missing those chances and faced break points in game eight. He denied them with winners and held for 4-4 with another potent attack. The American served to stay in the set at 4-5 and brought it home with a service winner.
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Adam squandered twogame points at 5-5 before facing a break point. Fritz seized it with a backhand down the line winner, forging a 6-5 advantage and serving for the win. Taylor painted another backhand down the line winner in game 12, holding at love and moving into the last eight.
