In his sixth trip to the Atlanta Open, Taylor Fritz is the champion for the first time.
Fritz, who was the runner-up in 2019 and reached the semifinals last year, outlasted Aleksandar Vukic 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-4 in the the championship match on Sunday afternoon. Atlanta’s top seed triumphed after two hours and 16 minutes of play.
“I felt like today it was like, ‘I’m here to win it and I’d be absolutely devastated with a final result,'” Fritz explained. “Even though a lot of times being in the final, I’m happy with that.
“I’ve played this tournament six times; (I’ve had) semis, finals…. I feel like I’ve always been close. It’s nice. I don’t think I could have handled another loss in the finals. It feels really good to kind of get the job done.”
It looked like Fritz would get it done in relatively routine straight sets when Vukic served to stay in the match at 5-6 in the second. The world No. 9 had double-championship point at 15-40, but Vukic reeled off four points in a row to hold and force a tiebreaker. It was a ‘breaker the 27-year-old Aussie took seven points to five.
Despite that disappointment, Fritz remained untouchable on serve in the third. The 25-year-old, who won 47 of 48 service games throughout the entire tournament, did not face a single break point on Sunday. As such, a single break of his opponent was enough in the decider–just as it was in the opening set. It came at love for a 4-3 advantage, after which Fritz delivered two more routine holds to clinch victory.
“I kind of just hit the mental reset (after the second set) and told myself, ‘I’ve had way more chances in his service games and I haven’t faced a break point. Just keep holding and doing what I’m doing–keep giving myself chances. Eventually he won’t keep coming up really good serves on those chances.’ And that’s what happened. (At 3-3 in the third) it was the first time that he didn’t make serves under pressure.
“It feels really good to come through and win the tournament when you’re the favorite. It feels really good to show up as the 1 seed and get the job done.”
Fritz is also be the No. 1 seed next week in Washington, D.C., where could face Vukic–or Andy Murray–in the third round.
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nice one, Fritz
Took a few years, but he finally won it. Well deserved, Taylor!