‘Fired-up’ Taylor Fritz sees off Lorenzo Musetti in ATP Finals
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Taylor Fritz playing a backhand return to Italy's Lorenzo Musetti during the ATP Finals in Turin on Nov 10.
PHOTO: AFP
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TURIN – Taylor Fritz got his bid for a first ATP Finals crown off to the best possible start with a comprehensive 6-3, 6-4 win over home favourite Lorenzo Musetti in Turin on Nov 10.
The 28-year-old American, who lost in the 2024 final to Jannik Sinner, was out of the blocks quickly in the Jimmy Connors Group match, taking an early break and holding on to pocket the first set.
The crowd did their best to lift a visibly fatigued Musetti, who was a late addition to the line-up.
The 23-year-old qualified for the Finals on Nov 8 after Novak Djokovic pulled out with injury,
Winning 84 per cent of his first serves and giving away just four break-point chances, none of which were taken, Fritz continued to control the match.
The American broke to go 3-1 up and served cleanly all the way to the line.
“I am really happy. I thought I did a lot of things really well,” Fritz said.
“I did a great job early on in the match to serve my way out of trouble and save some break points. The whole second set I played well and had a lot of chances to break that I didn’t get.
“I am really happy I was able to serve it out there and it didn’t come back to ruin it.”
Fritz qualified sixth for the Finals and, after finishing runner-up in 2024, is gearing up for another tilt at the title.
“Every time I come here, I like the conditions and it is very easy to get motivated and fired up,” he said.
“You can lock in. It is the last tournament of the year and it is the ATP Finals – it’s a big deal.”
Neither player will have time to rest as both are back on court on Nov 11.
Fritz faces Carlos Alcaraz who also got off to a winning start by beating Alex de Minaur on Nov 9, while Musetti takes on the Australian.
Ahead of Musetti’s opener, Alcaraz admitted he was relieved to be facing the Italian, rather than seven-time champion Djokovic.
“Obviously, someone like Novak being in the group is always tough,” Alcaraz said.
“The experience he has in this tournament, the level he has on indoor court, it’s quite good. I lost to him in 2023 and I played great. He killed me.”
“To be honest, I prefer Lorenzo. I’m not going to lie,” Alcaraz added with a smile.
“If he’s there, he deserves it because of the level he has put on in the matches, the tournaments he has done this year and the level he showed this year.”
In overnight action on Nov 9, third seed Alexander Zverev downed Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) in the first match of the Bjorn Borg Group, which also includes Italian world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime. The duo faced off in the late match on Nov 10, which took place after press time.
In a meeting between two of the biggest servers in the sport, Zverev broke the American fifth seed twice in the opener to edge ahead after less than half an hour on court.
The second set then rumbled inevitably towards a tiebreak with few break opportunities appearing for either player.
The 2018 and 2021 winner started the tiebreak sluggishly as Shelton soon brought himself up three set points at 6-3.
But Zverev started the fightback with a superb backhand passing shot, before sealing match point at the first time of asking as Shelton hit long at the end of a lengthy rally. REUTERS, AFP
