Fritz firing in opening Turin win

Last year’s finalist shot out of the blocks on Monday with a 6-3, 6-4 group defeat of Lorenzo Musetti to begin his run at the ATP Finals with a convincing win.

Musetti, second Italian in the eight-man field along with Jannik Sinner, came to the court with an obvious energy deficit after playing the Athens final on Saturday against Novak Djokovic – the conclusion of a week where three of his four matches stretched to three sets.

Musetti only earned a Turin place when Djokovic declined to play here in the multi-million-dollar end-of-season payday,

Fritz lost the final a year ago to Sinner but was able to stay in control against a tiring Musetti.

The Californian hammered 13 aces among his 34 winners and put his opponent under pressure, converting on two of a dozen break chances.

Musetti, who saved a match point in the penultimate game, had won three previous matches with Fritz and the American was glad to take some revenge.

But the winner said he had to work himself into the match against a tricky opponent.”It felt really good at the end of the first set and through the second,” he said. “I had some early nerves and played a sketchy game early on.

“But I came through with serve, I was able to buy time and ease into it, figure out how to best structure the points.”

Fritz said that Musetti can make life uncomfortable on court. “he does a lot of things that bother me. His slices float and that can be annoying.

“I don’t have the pace to work with, but with this faster court I was able to be aggressive and rush him.”

Fritz is expected to duel in the group with world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, with both men winning their opening group matches in straight sets.

Main photo:- Taylor Fritz winning his first round robin match – by International Sports Fotos