In a tense match at the 2024 National Bank Open, Taylor Fritz outlasted Andrey Rublev to claim a 6-3, 7-6(4) victory, advancing to the semifinals in Toronto. Fritz, who dominated with his serving, was on the verge of a serving shutout when he faltered in the second set. Serving for the match at 5-4, Fritz lost the game and Rublev took the match to a tie-break.
Fritz Recovers and Dominates Serve to Win
However, Fritz, with 18 wins from his last 21 matches, regained his composure and sealed the win. Reflecting on his second-set lapse, Fritz said, “That whole game was so shaky for me. It’s weird because he was holding easy, I was holding easy. It felt so like calm and chill and all of a sudden I’m serving to be in the semis, the pressure of the game came out of nowhere.”
Despite the blip, Fritz found his rhythm and held his nerve in the tie-break, securing his 20th hard-court win of the season. He served up 20 aces, including 9 in the first set, and won 79% of his first serves. Rublev, known for his powerful serve, struggled to break Fritz’s serve, with only one break point converted during the match.
Looking Ahead: Fritz Faces Ben Shelton in Semifinals
This win propels Fritz into the semifinals, where he will face fellow American Ben Shelton, who overcame Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-4 in their quarterfinal match. Fritz’s impressive form this season has seen him become the third player to reach 20 hard-court wins in 2024.
Fritz’s semifinal berth is a testament to his consistent serving and mental fortitude. After his victory, he remarked, “There’s no way to sugarcoat it, it was a tight game. My brain kind of turned off. The only thing you can do is come back and win the set. I would be a lot more upset about what happened in the game if I lose the match. Winning makes it feel not as bad.”
As the 27-year-old Fritz looks to continue his winning streak, he becomes the first American to reach the semifinals in all nine current ATP Masters 1000 events. This victory sets the stage for an exciting clash with Shelton in the upcoming semifinal.
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