Fritz deflates Shanghai Surprise Vacherot

Taylor Fritz had to work for more than two and a half hours to hold off recent Monegasque breakthrough Valentin Vacherot, posting a 4-6, 7-6 (4), 7-5 win to start his campaign at the Swiss Indoors on Wednesday.

The Californian top seed in Basel combined with his opponent for 85 winners, with Fritz firing 21 aces on his way into the second round at the St Jakobshalle.

Vacherot, who won the Shanghai Masters title from a qualifying start this month, recovered breaks of serve in each of the three sets as he pegged back the world No. 4 American who now stands 5-4 at the event in Roger Federer’s hometown.

Fritz, playing his 70th match of the season, escaped the logjam in the final game with a concluding break of serve as Vacherot volleyed into the net on match point to end the tight contest.

“His serving was huge and I was not returning as well as I would have liked on first serve,” the winner said.

“He made things tough and made me work for a lot of points. I knew he would be confident but I did not expect him to play this well.

“In the slower conditions he played much better. But when we got new balls I was able to get the break in the final game. I was in control when things were playing a bit faster.”

Fritz is the first American No. 1 seed in Basel since Andy Roddick in 2003, winning his 12th first-round hardcourt match of the season.