Taylor Fritz overcame Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena to advance in the Canada Open in Toronto. It was an intensely fought match in which he emerged vicotrious 7-5, 7-6(1).
This was the opening match for Fritz at the tournament. He is the first American top-two seed at an ATP Masters 1000 event since No. 1 Andy Roddick in 2005 (Paris).
The world number four was tested against Carballes Baena, even surrendering his typically reliable serve while serving for the first set at 5-3 after a short rain stoppage. The Spaniard did not make it easy for the American with lengthy rallies, but Carballes Baena blinked late in the second set, double faulting on break point while serving at 5-4.
After an 18-minute rain delay, Taylor Fritz advanced after two hours, 31 minutes.
“Being down that break, getting it back at 5-4 — 30/0 for him too — I played a really good point to get back in that and then I just grinded it out in the breaker,” said a relieved Fritz.
“Tough conditions all week here. I feel like even in practice, I’ve had such a hard time just literally putting the ball in the court. Happy to get through that.”
Now Fritz is attempting to complete the set of quarter-finals at all nine ATP Masters 1000 events. The 10-time tour-level titlist is seeking his second Masters 1000 crown (Indian Wells, 2022).
In a Wimbledon rematch, Fritz will now face Canada’s Gabriel Diallo in the next round.
Fritz beat the Canadian earlier this month at Wimbledon. The 27-year-old defeated Diallo in a five-set thriller at the All England Club. One can expect a thrilling battle in the third round.
Also Read: Canadian Open: Top 4 Favourites To Win Title Ft. Taylor Fritz
In his second round, the 27th-seed from Montreal beat Italy’s Matteo Gigante 6-3, 7-5 (6).
Gigante doubled-faulted on match point. Diallo, 23, hit eight aces to Gigante’s five.
The 6-foot-8 right-hander from Montreal outlasted Gigante in 1 hour, 46 minutes in the rain-interrupted match.
Diallo saved two set points at 2-5 before breaking back and eventually forcing a tiebreaker. Gigante took a 5-3 lead, then dropped the last four points, double-faulting on match point.
Tennis is sometimes pretty crazy with the momentum switches that you see throughout a match,” Diallo said.
The canadian won his first ATP Tour title last month in the Netherlands.
