The champion of the 2022 Indian Wells Masters, Taylor Fritz is two wins away from completing the career Sunshine Double at the Miami Open.
Advancing to his first semifinal in Miami certainly wasn’t easy, however. Fritz faced Matteo Berrettini in the quarterfinals on Thursday night and survived a high-quality 7-5, 6-7(7), 7-5 thriller. The fourth-ranked American saw six match points come and go in the second set but eventually steadied the ship to prevail in two hours and 44 minutes.
Fritz is now 14-5 this season after also defeating Lorenzo Sonego, Denis Shapovalov, and Adam Walton.
Standing in Fritz’s way of the championship match on Friday night is surprising semifinalist Jakub Mensik. The 19-year-old Czech did get the benefit of a fourth-round walkover from compatriot Tomas Machac, but he has played well when necessary. Mensik is through to his first Masters 1000 semi thanks to victories over Roberto Bautista Agut, Indian Wells champion Jack Draper, Roman Safiullin, and Arthur Fils.
This marks the second meeting between Fritz and Mensik. They previously squared off at the 2023 U.S. Open, where Fritz rolled 6-1, 6-2, 6-0.
Just 17 years old at the time, Mensik is obviously a much more formidable opponent at this point. Still, Fritz owns just about every conceivable advantage. The No. 3 seed can match Mensik’s elite first serve and backhand while owning a significant edge in the forehand, second serve, and experience departments. Count on Fritz advancing to the final without too much trouble.
Pick: Fritz in 2
WWW?
Never bet against Mensik – especially at those odds
1.50 for Fritz, maybe. 1.25, no way.
It’s not 1.25 you fucking clown
Ricky’s prediction implies 1.25
and sportsbet in aus had it at around 1.25
yeh, 3 to 1 mensik was a freebie. easy spot for fritz to do his normal choke.
Mensik FH best I’ve ever seen him hit it
I thought Fritz played really well. Same as against Berettini.
Fritz-Berrettini was amazing. Berrettini played incredibly.
Lol, ok mate. We get the picture.