Taylor Fritz is safely into the Shanghai Masters round of 32 after his battling win over Terence Atmane.
Fritz will play the Vienna ATP 500 later this month, but first he will be eyeing glory at the Shanghai Masters.
His quest for success comes after Fritz finished runner-up at the US Open, where he met Jannik Sinner in his first Grand Slam final.
The American is now number seven in the ATP Tour rankings, and faces Yosuke Watanuki in his next test in Shanghai.
That tie comes after a tricky challenge in his opener with Frenchman Atmane, who tested Fritz before the latter ultimately won 7-6(7-4), 7-6(7-5).
Taylor Fritz wins ‘uncomfortable’ Shanghai Masters opener
By his own admission, it was by no means a straightforward encounter for the American, who occupies fifth spot in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin.
“I think his ability to basically hit a winner from anywhere on the court made it very tough,” Fritz said of Atmane, as quoted by the ATP Tour website. “Because sometimes I almost felt like if I wanted to be the aggressor in the rally, I had to go on when I maybe didn’t want to go on.
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“Then sometimes I had to take just a more defensive, solid approach to the points, let him pull the trigger and if he makes it, he makes it.
“That uncertainty of what if he does make it is always uncomfortable. He was playing really well, serving well on big points, so it’s great to get through that in two sets.”
Can Taylor Fritz make it past star-studded Shanghai Masters field?
Fritz should be full of confidence after his US Open adventure, although the American was quickly brought back down to earth with his opening round loss at the Japan Open.
He is now the seventh seed in Shanghai, and will be fully aware about just how difficult it will be to enjoy another run to the final.
The likes of Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev are also into the round of 32, with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz into the last 16.
Fritz’s compatriot Tommy Paul is also into that stage in Shanghai, with a long list of talented players vying for success.
First and third seeds Sinner and Alcaraz respectively are the players to beat, with the former the world number one and the latter a recent China Open champion.
But 24-time Grand Slam winner Djokovic will also have his eyes on the prize, with the Serbian boasting a record four Shanghai Masters titles.
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