Taylor Fritz’s section of the French Open draw was already the weakest before the tournament even began. Now it’s even more up for grabs after Fritz, himself, lost in the first round on Monday afternoon.
The world No. 4 fell to Daniel Altmaier 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 in two hours and 41 minutes. Altmaier won nine of the 13 total break points in the match, converting five of his chances while saving four of five on his own serve.
“It was very special,” the 66th-ranked German assured. “I think I was working really hard the past weeks to get confidence, preparing myself for those kinds of matches. I feel like I’m ready to play whoever is going to face me. I’m really happy to get this first win and I really love my performance.”
Fritz chalked up his disappointing performance to movement on clay and big-point conversions.
“I feel like since between Rome, Geneva and here, my movement on court is really bad,” the American admitted. “I don’t know what’s going on. A lot of times when I’m sliding, I’m off balance; I’m not timing it correctly. I’m getting wrong-footed a lot–slipping a lot.
“I think I’m playing generally fine. It’s just a lot of important points, I just am playing horrendous tennis on a lot of the important points. When I’m break point down, or I’ve got looks on his serve, like 0-30, 15-30, 30-30, break point–all the pressure, important points–I don’t know what’s going on. I’m finding ways to just play the worst point possible.”
Altmaier, who upset Jannik Sinner at Roland Garros in 2023, now has a great chance to perhaps go all the way to the quarterfinals. Either he, Vit Kopriva, Juan Manuel Cerundolo, or Hamad Medjedovic will be in the fourth round, at which point one of those players would meet Frances Tiafoe, Pablo Carreno Busta, Sebastian Korda, or Jenson Brooksby.
nice one, Altma
Who should have done better last week . Not a huge surprise Taylor going out
He’s even admittimg to being a cart horse on clay
Yeah I thought this was going to be a match to watch and a tricky one for Fritz and an upset alert, Altmaier has now 3 big upsets at this event.