American tennis has been surging this season, with a title run on the inaugural United Cup adopted by a powerful displaying on the Australian Open from the nation’s males. Taylor Fritz was a part of that victorious United Cup group, however he was up in opposition to a countryman in Jack Sock to start his Dallas Open marketing campaign on Thursday night.
The prime seed lived as much as his standing because the ATP Tour’s No. 1 American with a 7-6(5), 6-4 victory, successful a rematch of his most up-to-date assembly with Sock one 12 months in the past on the similar occasion. With that outcome, Fritz moved up one place to No. 7 within the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings, setting himself up for a brand new profession excessive on Monday.
“I thought I played pretty well,” Fritz stated of his first match since a second-round Australian Open exit. “He served well and when I got chances on his serve he played the points well, so it was pretty tight. I wasn’t really able to find that break, but I played well, I protected my serve well, and I’m pretty happy with the match.”
The World No. 8 transformed solely one in all his seven break probabilities, however he didn’t face a break level on his personal supply behind 10 aces and a 91 per cent win charge on first serve.
Both gamers had been aggressive on the indoor arduous court docket, with a mixed 60 winners and 34 internet approaches between the 2. In the rallies, Fritz discovered the Sock backhand as usually as he might, with Sock content material to slice his replies off that wing whereas he patiently waited for a possibility to unleash his large forehand.
Over the course of 1 hour, 36 minutes, Fritz did simply sufficient to advance in straight units and arrange a quarter-final matchup with seventh seed Marcos Giron or Oscar Otte, with the pair closing out the day’s play on the occasion.
Fifth seed John Isner additionally superior on Thursday with a 6-3, 7-6(1) win in opposition to Daniel Altmaier. He will meet Emilio Gomez in Friday’s quarters after the Ecuadorian’s 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 upset of fourth seed Miomir Kecmanovic. Gomez, whose father is former World No. 4 Andres Gomez, is thru to his first ATP Tour quarter-final.
In different motion, eighth seed Adrian Mannarino was a 6-2, 7-6(3) winner in opposition to Jordan Thompson. The Frenchman will meet China’s Wu Yibing for a spot within the final 4. The different Dallas quarter-final will see Wednesday winners Frances Tiafoe and J.J. Wolf sq. off in an all-American matchup.
Source web site: www.atptour.com
