ATP Finals: Fritz stuns Nadal on debut

Taylor Fritz surprised Rafa Nadal 7-6(3), 6-1 to make a successful debut on the ATP Finals in Turin.

Spanish high seed Nadal arrived in Italy having solely competed in a single singles match since his fourth-round US Open loss two months in the past and his lack of latest competitors confirmed as he was unable to maintain tempo with Fritz because the match wore on.

“I want extra matches to play at this sort of stage, even when I’m practising properly, significantly better than how I’m competing, no doubt. That’s regular,” Nadal advised reporters.

“On the finish will not be the perfect match and doubtless a part of the season to come back again after a few months with out being on the tour since you don’t have time to get confidence.”

Nadal grabbed a 6-5 lead within the opening set when he held to like for a fifth time however then misplaced the opening three factors of the tiebreaker and couldn’t discover his method again.

After neither participant dropped serve within the first set, Fritz broke early within the second for a 3-1 lead and once more to drag forward 5-1 earlier than closing out the match on his subsequent service recreation when Nadal despatched a forehand lengthy.

“As soon as I bought by that first set I simply needed to do the identical factor I used to be doing for the second set: care for my serve and simply look to capitalise on the break factors once I bought them,” Fritz mentioned in his on-court interview.

“I knew popping out right here this was going to be a giant match if I wish to make it out of the group, it’s a very essential one.”

For Fritz, the victory marked his first over a top-three opponent in 12 makes an attempt and improved him to 2-2 in head-to-head conferences with Nadal having overwhelmed him at Indian Wells in March.