Taylor Fritz got here again from a set all the way down to win a battle of two of the brightest stars in American tennis on Saturday on the BNP Paribas Open. Beginning his title defence in Indian Wells, the World No. 5 was challenged by the fast-rising Ben Shelton however finally used his big-match expertise to navigate via a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory.
The pair’s first ATP Head2Headvert assembly lived as much as the hype, as each showcased their electrical model of attacking tennis. While the rivals traded massive serves and booming forehands in an entertaining match on the packed stadium courtroom, it was Fritz’s endurance and poise that made the distinction within the desert.
“He’s a really good player,” Fritz mentioned of Shelton in his on-court interview, after sharing a heat embrace together with his opponent at web. “I expected him to come out serving well. He was playing well. He had nothing to lose so I did expect him to come out with a really high level.
“I believe I used to be prepared for it. I simply needed to regroup and discover a strategy to problem-solve. He’s an unbelievable participant, an especially robust first match to play, so I’m glad to get via it.”
The 25-year-old, 5 years Shelton’s senior, locked in from the baseline to earn the 2 essential breaks that determined the match. They got here within the last sport of set two, when Shelton missed a brief forehand, and the fifth sport of the decider, when the previous Florida Gator couldn’t deal with a dipping shot from Fritz at web.
Both gamers dominated on serve all through the one-hour, 52-minute match, every successful near 80 per cent of first-serve factors. But Fritz’s potential to assault the Shelton second serve — and defend his personal — made the distinction. The fifth seed received 84 per cent of his second-serve factors (26/31), whereas Shelton was underneath 50 per cent (16/34).
The stadium crowd performed its half within the match, too, with loads of alternatives to assist each gamers after some highlight-reel factors. But the most important cheers have been reserved for SoCal native Fritz.
“It’s amazing,” he mentioned of the environment. “It’s such a great feeling coming back, walking onto the court and then walking back out after the match is over. It’s such an amazing feeling just to feel the crowd and be back home.”
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Now on a seven-match successful streak in Indian Wells, Fritz will bid to increase his run towards thirtieth seed Sebastian Baez or Aussie Rinky Hijikata within the third spherical. Like Shelton, Hijikata was additionally a school star, at North Carolina, earlier than turning professional.
Shelton was searching for to match his greatest profession win, a one-sided victory over then-World No 5 Casper Ruud final August at Cincinnati. The American formally turned professional quickly after that occasion.
Source web site: www.atptour.com
