All of just 18 years old, Taylor Fritz has already played doubles with 2009 U.S. Open winner Juan Martin Del Potro. He will soon get to play singles against 17-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer. Fritz will take home each one-of-a-kind memory from this week’s action at the Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart, Germany.
The Fritz-Del Potro doubles duo took the court on Tuesday, which resulted in a loss to Florian Mayer and Philipp Oswald via a 7-6(5), 6-3 decision. But it wasn’t a bad day for the up-and-coming American; not at all. In addition to teaming up for doubles with Del Potro, Fritz battled through a tough opening-round singles match against qualifier Fabrice Martin. The world No. 65 fought off a match point at 5-6 in the second-set tiebreaker and eventually prevailed in one hour and 28 minutes after blasting 19 aces.
Fritz’s reward is a first-ever meeting with Federer on Wednesday.
“It’s amazing being able to play the next round, because growing up, Federer was the guy that nobody could beat,” Fritz noted. “I grew up in that generation of him just dominating, so it’s crazy now to be stepping on the court with him.
“I remember I was in fifth grade in my computer class. We were supposed to be doing some kind of assignment and I was live streaming the (2009) U.S. Open final, Federer vs. Del Potro. Sitting there then, I never thought that at the same tournament I’d be playing against Federer and playing doubles with Del Potro.”
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