Taylor Fritz delivered a scientific show to maintain alive his Nitto ATP Finals qualification hopes on Monday on the Rolex Paris Masters.
The ninth-seeded American wrapped a 6-1, 6-4 first-round triumph in opposition to Sebastian Baez on the ATP Masters 1000 occasion within the French capital. Fritz transformed all three break factors he earned to enhance to 54-23 for the season and set a second-round assembly with #NextGenATP house favorite Arthur Fils or Daniel Altmaier.
“I’m fairly blissful, particularly with how the match began within the first set,” mentioned Fritz, whose finest Paris result’s a quarter-final run in 2021. “I acquired an early break of serve within the second and fortunately I used to be simply in a position to maintain on serve and end it up.”
Shifting on 👏@Taylor_Fritz97 knocks out Baez 6-1 6-4 to advance to R2 in Paris!@RolexPMasters | #RolexParisMasters pic.twitter.com/oqGBDp0kaf
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 30, 2023
Nevertheless, it was not all plain crusing on Monday for Fritz, who acquired therapy from the physio mid-way by means of the second set on his left stomach. The 25-year-old spoke candidly after the match concerning the situation and he’ll hope it’s nothing too critical as he subsequent seems to be to maneuver previous Fils or Altmaier to set a possible third-round showdown along with his Pepperstone ATP Dwell Race To Turin rival Holger Rune.
“It’s one thing that’s been bothering me for slightly bit… I didn’t assume it was something too dangerous moving into [to this match], however one the place I slid out and sliced that forehand, I felt like I did one thing that I had by no means performed to it earlier than,” mentioned Fritz. “Like possibly I tore one thing or pulled it. So I’m going to must get it checked out and see what’s happening.”
With Monday’s win, Fritz moved above Hubert Hurkacz into ninth within the Pepperstone ATP Dwell Race To Turin. He’s presently 190 factors behind the defending Paris champion Rune as he chases a second straight look on the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals.
