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By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Sunday, November 10, 2024

 
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Taylor Fritz fired nine aces and did not drop serve defeating a cranky Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 6-3 in his ATP Finals round-robin opener.

Photo credit: Valerio Pennicino/Getty

Statement serving—and a fluky forehand shank—fueled Taylor Fritz to a winning start in Turin today.

Fritz did not drop serve sweeping a raging Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 6-3 in his ATP Finals round-robin opener.

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The fifth-seeded Fritz flashed nine aces against no double faults, won 33 of 39 first-serve points and denied all three break points he faced in a confident 80-minute triumph—his first win over Medvedev in two meetings.




It was a volatile and dreadful opener for Medvedev, who dumped three straight double faults to gift-wrap the first set to Fritz.

A cranky Medvedev coughed up eight double faults, won only six of 22 second-serve points and emotionally unraveled after Fritz’ forehand shank fell in giving the American the crucial break for a 4-2 second-set lead.

“I felt like I was returning the second serve pretty well,” Fritz told Tennis Channel’s Prakash Amritraj. “He was struggling a bit with his second serve. I felt like I didn’t give him the freedom to just kind of make it because I was attacking it really well. So I kind of kept the pressure on.

“And then obviously I served really well. You have to hit your spots incredibly well to get a free point against him. A lot of times, you can hit what you think are good serves and they come back. I did a really good job hitting the lines, hitting those high-quality serves consistently, to give myself some easier service games and to get myself out of trouble sometimes.”

The pair reside in the Ilie Nastase Group and Medvedev unleashed a volatile tirade reminiscent of the Romanian nicknamed “Nasty” in his prime.

At various times, Medvedev smashed his racquet, hurled it against the back wall, broke a court-side microphone, incurred a point-penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct and appeared to be baiting the chair umpire to hit him with a game penalty by nearly returning one serve with the handle of the racquet.

To his credit, Fritz didn’t lose focus as an ornery Meddy Bear growled and raged across net.

“I’d say the biggest thing is he might take a game to get it out. But I need to be ready,” Fritz told Tennis Channel’s Prakash Amritraj. “At 5-3 that last game serving he’s gonna give it everything. You can see already from the first point he made a really good return off my first serve and he was taking off to cover the next ball.

“It can catch you off guard sometimes when you think the person’s going crazy then they just get back into it. So I knew he wasn’t going to give me that last game—that was the biggest thing—but I get why it was frustrating for him. He had chances to break me, didn't get ‘em, and then I shanked a winner on my break point so it is what it is.”

The fourth-ranked Russian won the coin toss, elected to receive and immediately adopted an assertive return position closer to the baseline on second serve.

Fritz held strong through three service games then tested Medvedev’s serve in the seventh game.




The Russian double faulted to drop to deuce. Medvedev met the moment with finesse flicking his third forehand drop shot and following with an ace to level after six games.

US Open finalist Fritz was serving bigger at the outset. When Medvedev moved back to his customary deep return positioning, Fritz slid the slice serve shorter in the box stamping ihs second love hold for 5-4.

One of the longest rallies of the set ended with Medvedev pulling the string on a perfect backhand drop shot winner. Medvedev ended that 27-shot exchange with his fourth drop shot winner of the day.

In a stunning development, Medvedev clanked three consecutive double faults—he dumped seven double faults in the set—gifting the break and 41-minute opener to Fritz.

Medvedev won 16 of 17 first-serve points, but just 4 of 16 second-serve points in the opening set.

A disgusted Medvedev smashed his Tecnifibre racquet twice off his court-side bench then bashed it off the court, breaking the head and tossing the distorted stick over his shoulder.

That destruction earned Medvedev a code violation racquet abuse warning from chair umpire Adel Nour.

Resetting, Medvedev earned a second break point in the first game of set two. Playing defense for much of the point, Fritz flicked back some stretched shots then turned the tables on a 30-shot rally with a diagonal forehand winner.




That sequence helped Fritz hold firm to start the second set.

Two games later, Fritz was under duress again. The American missed a couple of mid-court backhands then broke his shoelace before facing a break point. Medvedev netted a drive as Fritz held for 2-1 after 57 minutes of play.

Facing a 15-40 deficit in the fourth game, Medvedev dialed up his first serve and dispensed danger holding to even the set at 2-all.

A day of frustration turned to self-destruction for Medvedev. Fritz, who was holding his ground in lengthy exchanges, won a 31-shot rally for a break point.

On the defensive, the American framed a loopy forehand that soared over Medvedev’s head and landed inside the baseline. That mis-hit stroke of genius gave an apologizing Fritz the break and broke Medvedev’s spirit.




The 2021 US Open champion hurled his racquet against the back wall and broke a court-side microphone then repeatedly tossed his stick up in the air.

At one point, Medvedev turned his Tecnifibre racquet around as if prepared to return with racquet handle like a pool cue.

Implosive histrionics caused chair umpire Nour to hit the former No. 1 with an unsportsmanlike conduct, which resulted in a point penalty. Fritz held at love for 5-2, while Medvedev contemplated pulling the plug.

"I get angry, frustrated," Medvedev said. "This time completely with myself, not with anyone. Just with myself. Yeah, very frustrated.

"I mean, tough break point. Shank, on the line. I was like, Whatever, I lost the match. I don't care. I mean, you have to finish the match. You cannot withdraw, no? I just finished the match."



Fritz fired his ninth ace for triple match point and closed his first win over Medvedev with a serve-and-volley.


 

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