Taylor Fritz 'feeling good' and aiming deep Atlanta run

American tennis star Taylor Fritz insists he is feeling well as he is aiming to make a deep run at the Atlanta Open. 

Fritz, ranked at No. 42 in the world, recovered from a set down to beat fellow compatriot Steve Johnson 6-7 (5) 6-4 6-1 and reach the Atlanta quarterfinal. 

Fritz, a former world No. 24, is making his fifth appearance on the hard courts of Atlanta. 

In 2019, Fritz made the Atlanta final before losing to Alex de Minaur. 

This year, Fritz is hoping to make it a step further. 

“I’m feeling really good, I like playing in the heat. And you know, we had a couple of tough [rallies] out there, but it was mostly serving. This is a fast court and there were a lot of short points, so it doesn’t take a big toll on my body,” Fritz said in an on-court interview, as quoted on the ATP website. “I feel ready for doubles, and then I’m going to rest up.”

Fritz claimed a comeback win 

Fritz had a chance to start the match with a break but Johnson saved three break points in the opening game. 

As not a single break point was seen in the rest of the first set, the opener had to be resolved in a tie-break. 

Johnson was down 4-2 after the opening six games of the tie-break but then won four consecutive points to take a 6-4 lead. 

Fritz saved the first set point but couldn't save the second as Johnson won a tight opener. 

In the second set, Fritz saved a break point in the seventh game before earning the first break of the match in the 10th game to force a decider. 

After winning the second set, Fritz started the third set with back-to-back breaks and a 5-0 lead. 

Johnson ended Fritz' seven-game winning run in the sixth game but the world No. 42 served out for the match in the seventh game. 

23-year-old Fritz plays next against the winner of the match between Bjorn Fratangelo and Reilly Opelka.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3lcGj9h