Demon can still dream of Turin SF after knockout of Fritz

Alex de Minaur won the first ATP Finals match of his career on Thursday with a gutsy defeat of 2024 finalist Taylor Fritz, with the Aussie still in with a chance for the semi-finals after winning 7-6 (3), 6-3.

The Demon came to the court with losses in all five of his previous contests at the elite year-ender, but played well from the start to unsteady a seemingly nervous and anxious Fritz, the world No. 6.

He took revenge for a loss to the American in the group phase here in Turin a year ago.

Despite round-robin losses this week to world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and a narrow defeat at the hands of Italian Lorenzo Musetti, de Minaur has mathematical chances to qualify into the Saturday semis. 

He will need Alcaraz to defeat Musetti in the evening match.

De Minaur seemed stunned by his perhaps unexpected success in 94 minutes after Fritz saved a match point in the penultimate game before the Australian threw down an ace for a second chance and then delivered a service winner to clinch victory.

“I’ve dealt with a good bit of heartbreak recently, it’s good to finally get a win in Turin,” he said. “I’ve worked really hard and it’s good to get some positive feedback or a reward for all that.

“I’m very happy with the performance today – it was a good match from the start to the end,”

De Minaur added that he is looking forward but seemed in some doubt as the eracuity of his chances to reach the weekend final four.

“I didn’t do much thinking about the what-ifs. I just committed to what I needed to do.

“There were some tough moments today but I backed myself. If it worked or if it didn’t I was going to leave everything out there.

“I’ve made my peace with that mindset. I put my best foot forward and I’m pleased with that.”

Fritz was burdened with 33 unforced errors in a lacklustre showing and ended his season 53-23 with titles on grass in Eastbourne and Stuttgart.

Main photo:-Alex de Minaur winning his first ever Masters Finals – by ISF Ltd