Taylor Fritz explained the differences between his performances against Jannik Sinner at the US Open and the ATP Finals.
The American faced the World number one in Turin for the first time since they competed in the championship match at Flushing Meadows.
The 27-year-old produced a solid performance against Jannik Sinner, who is aiming for his eighth title of 2024.
The Italian showed why he is the ATP Tour’s top-ranked player by capitalising on the few opportunities he created to claim a 6-4, 6-4 win.
Taylor Fritz compares his two most recent performances against Jannik Sinner
Taylor Fritz has competed against Sinner twice during the 2024 season. Their first meeting came in the US Open final, which the 23-year-old won comfortably in straight sets.
At the ATP Finals Sinner defeated Fritz once again, but the American was more satisfied with his performance in Turin than New York, which he discussed post-match.
“I think even though the result is the same and the score’s not even that different, the matches felt very very different,” Fritz told reporters post-match.
“US Open, I obviously didn’t serve very well and from the ground, I still didn’t feel too comfortable, I felt like I was getting a little overwhelmed.
“I had to rely a little bit too much on either hitting a shot that I didn’t feel was maybe a repeatable shot to hit or him missing to stay in, I felt like I was just fighting to stay in it.
“Today I felt like from the ground we were pretty even, to be honest. I didn’t feel like I was getting dominated in any of the patterns rally-wise, but in the US Open, forehand to freehand I was getting killed.
“I felt like I could hang forehand to forehand, I was hitting it much more through the court, not lifting it anywhere near as much. When I was lifting it at the Open, it just sets up for him to crush the ball.
“I did a really good job from the ground today. Also honestly it served pretty well. For all of the natch I didn’t feel overwhelmed, I was right there.”
Who is Taylor Fritz’s next opponent?
Fritz will take on Alex de Minaur in his next match at the ATP Finals.
This is a critical match for the World number seven, who could be eliminated should he lose and if other results go against him.
De Minaur is playing for pride after defeats to Sinner and Daniil Medvedev mean he does not have a chance of qualifying for the semi-finals.
The Australian will certainly make things tricky for Fritz, who he has beaten five times from their eight meetings.
Should Fritz make it to the semi-finals, he will keep his quest for a first ATP Finals title alive.
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