After Seven Days In Covid Quarantine, Taylor Fritz Seals Top-Eight Debut With Tokyo Title - UBITENNIS

After Seven Days In Covid Quarantine, Taylor Fritz Seals Top-Eight Debut With Tokyo Title

The American battled against the odds to win his first-ever ATP 500 title.

By Adam Addicott
4 Min Read
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America’s Taylor Fritz has described his run to the Japan Open title as ‘crazy’ after edging out compatriot Frances Tiafoe in two close sets. 

The 24-year-old battled on the court for almost two hours before prevailing 7-6(3), 7-6(2), over Tiafoe who recently reached the semi-finals of the US Open. It is the first time Fritz has won an ATP 500 event and it is the third time this season he has claimed a Tour title. Earlier in the season, he also won the Indian Wells Masters and Eastbourne International. 

In his latest match, Fritz hit a total of 27 winners against just 13 unforced errors compared to Tiafoe’s tally of 29 and 26. He has become the first American man to win the Tokyo title since Pete Sampras in 1996 and the 10th overall. 

“I don’t think it has set in how fast the last four or five days have been. It’s so crazy. I mean, I couldn’t have written it out any better,” Fritz said during his on-court interview with TennisTV. “This is exactly what I needed for the Race (to Turin), my ranking and it has put me in a good position for the end of the year. It’s amazing.”

Fritz will rise to a career-high ranking of eighth in the world on Monday when the standings are updated, making it the first time he has broken into the world’s top 10 – becoming the first male player from his country to do so since Jack Sock in 2017. 

The run to the title is even sweeter for Fritz who at one stage was unsure if he would be allowed to play in the tournament. Before Japan, he spent seven days at a quarantine facility in South Korea after testing positive for COVID-19. Speaking to reporters earlier this week, he said he felt ‘pretty sick’ and was unsure how he would perform in Japan. 

“Turning such a bad situation where I didn’t even know if I was going to be able to play this tournament and if I was, it would have to be after being in a hotel room for seven days having covid and then taking a flight the morning of (the tournament starting). So turning a situation like that into a title and doing it when it has such an important impact on the race. It feels so good.” He commented. 

There is some consultation for Tiafoe who will rise to a career-high of No.17. It is the third time this season he has been beaten by Fritz on the Tour but the first time in straight sets. The last time he beat him was back in 2016 at Indian Wells. 

“Congrats to my guy Taylor on cracking the top 10 and winning this event,” he said during the trophy ceremony. 
“I’m fed up with losing to you but hopefully we have many more battles.”

Returning the praise, Fritz then hailed the achievements of his opponent, who has beaten both Rafael Nadal (US Open) and Stefanos Tsitsipas (Laver Cup) in recent weeks. 

“He’s been on fire recently and I had to play my best to beat him today. We have spent a lot of time together the last couple of weeks and he is one of my close friends,” Fritz commented on Tiafoe. 
“I’m sure that this is not going to be the last time we play for a big title. It is always fun battling with him.”

Fritz has won 41 matches so far this season against 17 losses. 

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