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Taylor Fritz advanced to the Wimbledon fourth round with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-1 win over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Taylor Fritz at Wimbledon (AP)
Taylor Fritz kept his Wimbledon hopes — and Independence Day celebrations — alive on Friday with a hard-fought 6-4, 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-1 victory over Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina to reach the fourth round.
For much of the match, it seemed Fritz would cruise to the finish line. After being taken to five sets in his first two matches, the world No. 5 appeared refreshed and in control as he raced to a two-set lead under the sunny skies of Centre Court.
Fritz was up a break in the third set and serving for the match when his usually dependable serve faltered. Davidovich Fokina, ranked 27th, finally capitalized on a breakpoint and then edged the third set in a tense tiebreak.
With the Spaniard riding a wave of confidence, the momentum seemed to be shifting. But Fritz, whose calm demeanor rarely betrays any frustration, quickly regained his composure. He dominated the fourth set, breaking Davidovich Fokina three times to seal the win and book his place in the last 16.
Fritz, who is aiming to become the first American man to win a Grand Slam since Andy Roddick in 2003, has proven his endurance over the opening week. His Wimbledon campaign started shortly after claiming his fourth title at Eastbourne last Saturday.
His first-round match at the All England Club was stretched over two days, and his second-round win against Gabriel Diallo nearly followed suit. But after two physically demanding outings, Friday’s relatively shorter match was a welcome relief.
While many players would feel the fatigue by this stage, Fritz said his body is responding surprisingly well.
“This is going to sound crazy, but my body is actually feeling better after each match,” said the 27-year-old American. “I feel like somehow it felt the worst after my first round but now it’s getting better.”
Fritz will now face Australia’s Jordan Thompson in the fourth round, continuing his quest to break America’s long Grand Slam drought.
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term…Read More
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term… Read More
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