By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday February 13, 2025
The American got past Bu Yunchaokete to earn his ninth consecutive win at the Delray Beach Open.
Photo Source: Matthew Calvis
Two-time champion Taylor Fritz opened his bid for the first three-peat in Delray Beach Open on Thursday night, taking out China’s Bu Yunchaokete 7-6(4), 6-2.
Fritz is bidding to become the first man in the tournament’s 33-year history to win three consecutive titles, and the Southern California native is also aiming to become the 34th man since the Open Era began in 1968 to win at least one specific tournament three years in a row.
If he’s successful, fourth-ranked and top-seeded Fritz would also become the first American man born after 1990 to three-peat at an ATP Tour event.
He was pushed in the early going by the 23-year-old World No.69, but the 27-year-old came through the opening set in a tiebreak before coasting through the second set on the strength of a pair of service breaks.
It was actually the Chinese who had the only break point in the first set, with Fritz serving at 2-2, but the American held his ground.
“I’m super happy to get it done,” 2024 US Open runner-up Fritz said, after improving to 8-3 on the season. “He was playing well and it was a super tough opening set. It’s always good to come out and get a high-level [opening match] like that.”
Fritz conducted the match on his terms, despite slow conditions in high humidity, and managed 41 winners against just 18 for Bu. Both players hit 21 unforced errors.
The American, who owns a home in the area, has now won nine consecutive matches at the ATP 250 event.
“I don’t think it’s that much of a coincidence that the tournament I have won two times in a row is also the tournament that I can stay at my own place and drive up to,” he said. “It’s great to be here, a lot of great memories – a lot of confidence playing on this court over the years.”
Fritz will face Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the quarterfinals.
The Spaniard took out Mackenzie McDonald, 6-2, 5-7, 6-0.
“He’s a tough player, he’s really quick. It’s slow conditions out here, so I’m going to have to work extra hard for a lot of points.”
In other action 19-year-old Learner Tien served for the win at 5-4 in the third against Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi, but the fourth seed rebounded to defeat Tien 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-6(1). Arnaldi hit 24 aces in the victory.
Brandon Nakashima, who defeated Reilly Opelka in three sets, 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, will face Arnaldi in Friday’s quarterfinals.