Taylor Fritz hasn’t let his knee injury get the better of him at the Miami Open, where he is now into the last 16.
Fritz has beaten both Botic van de Zandschulp and Reilly Opelka in Miami, where the American is the sixth seed.
He needed three sets in his 6-3, 6-7(2-7), 6-3 win against the Dutchman, before a more straightforward 6-3, 6-4 triumph over his compatriot.
Fritz has now issued an injury update ahead of his next match at the Miami Open, with the ATP ace currently managing persistent right knee tendonitis.
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Fritz told Tennis Channel of his knee after beating Opelka: “I feel pretty good.
“I think it’s been getting better slowly and yeah, I’m excited I get another day off tomorrow, so I think I’ll be feeling 100% ready to go for the next round.”
And when asked what he expects from his next opponent, Jiri Lehecka, he said: “It’s a tough match. He’s playing well. I think these conditions are good for him.
“I think it’s going to be similar to a lot of the matches we’ve had in the past where it’s close, it can go either way, it comes down to a couple points here and there.
“We both serve well, want to hit the ball flat and big, and yeah we’ll see.”
History is very much on the side of the American for his tie with his Czech opponent, with Fritz boasting a 4-1 head-to-head record over Lehecka.
Taylor Fritz breaks down the Miami Open court speeds
Fritz was also on hand to break down the balls and the court speeds at the Miami Open, having recently done the same for Indian Wells.
The venue comprises the likes of the Stadium, Grandstand and Butch Buchholz courts, with the home favorite explaining: “It’s quick.
“To be honest, I think a lot of the courts play differently. I felt like Center today played a bit slower than Grandstand.
“I feel like Grandstand is probably the fastest court here. Both of those two courts bounce lower than the practice courts bounce. A lot of different things.
“And it makes sense, you’re never going to be able to get the Center court the same speed as all the others when you’re laying it over a turf field, and then all the others are laid over like black top in a parking lot.
“It’s just not… I don’t know, it’s just not realistic that it’s going to be the same. So that’s just something about this tournament you always kind of have to just be on top of.”
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And when asked how many games or points it takes for him to be comfortable on Stadium after coming from a practice court, he said: “I got to warm up on Stadium this morning, but I do think it’s a lot easier to go from faster to slower.
“So my other match on Grandstand, it’s easier to make that adjustment now the ball’s a bit slower.
“It’s very tough when you get used to slow and then have to go to fast. And I don’t think the difference is so extreme that it’s too tough of an adjustment.”
Fritz beat Van de Zandschulp on Grandstand and Opelka on Stadium, with the venue for his clash with Lehecka yet to be confirmed.
He entered the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Miami on the back of a disappointing run at Indian Wells, where he lost to Alex Michelsen after beating Jacob Fearnley.
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