Taylor Fritz will compete in the quarter-final of the ATP 500 event in Washington. The top seed faced Matteo Arnaldi in the third round and scored a 6-3, 6-4 victory in an hour and 41 minutes.
The hoe favorite fired ten aces and dominated behind the first serve, taking 37 of 39 points! World no. 4 struggled behind the second serve but defended all four break points, mounting the pressure on the other side.
The American took 43% of the return points and generated ten break chances. He seized one in each set to make the difference and remain on the title course.
Fritz fired more service winners and had the upper hand from the baseline. He had the upper hand in the shortest, mid-range and most advanced exchanges to seal the deal in style.
They served well in the opening seven games of the encounter. Taylor made a push on the return at 4-3 and welcomed the rival’s backhand error that sent him in front. World no. 4 served for the set at 5-3 and held at 15, wrapping up the first part of the duel in 39 minutes.
The second set was less fluid, lasting over an hour after deuces and break points. Matteo denied break points in games one and three and earned his chances on the return at 2-1.
Fritz saved three break points, two with winners, and cracked an ace to close the game and level the score at 2-2. The American stepped in on the return in game five and drew the Italian’s forehand error to clinch a break and move 3-2 in front.
The top seed served well in games six and eight to open a 5-3 gap. Taylor painted a forehand down the line winner in the ninth game for a match point. Arnaldi denied it with a crafty drop shot and held for 4-5.
Fritz served for the win in game ten and faced a break point after a forehand error. He saved it with a powerful serve and landed another on a match point to emerge at the top.
