By Ricky Dimon
In an all-American showdown for the Rothesay Worldwide title, Taylor Fritz outlasted Maxime Cressy 6-2, 6-7(4), 7-6(4) on Saturday afternoon.
As aggressive because the scoreline was, it was a well-deserved victory for Fritz. The world No. 14 didn’t face a single break level and broke Cressy’s serve twice. In complete, Fritz received 30 return factors to Cressy’s 10 over the course of two hours and 17 minutes.
It marked the third ATP title in Fritz’s profession and now two of the three have are available in Eastbourne (beforehand in 2019). He additionally lifted the trophy at this yr’s Indian Wells Masters.
“There’s something about this place,” Fritz stated through the trophy ceremony. “It’s the place I received my first title and once I received right here on the primary day this week, I felt that I used to be enjoying so significantly better than earlier than. This place has a particular spot in my coronary heart…. My grass season wasn’t going nice earlier than I arrived right here. However it’s nice to beat these gamers and it offers me confidence. I performed rather well all week and going into Wimbledon, I really feel good.”
There might be a Fritz-Cressy rematch on the All-England Membership, though Cressy must efficiently navigate a tough first-round draw. The 25-year-old has to go up in opposition to Felix Auger-Aliassime on Tuesday. Whoever wins that marquee matchup could be on a collision course with Fritz for the fourth spherical in Rafael Nadal’s part of the draw.
Fritz opens with Lorenzo Musetti and has no obvious grass-court threats anyplace close to him on his solution to the second week.
Additionally going into London with loads of momentum are Stefanos Tsitsipas and Roberto Bautista Agut. One other third-set tiebreaker needed to resolve the Mallorca Championships ultimate, with Tsitsipas prevailing over Bautista Agut 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(2).
“It appears like I’m enjoying longer matches on grass than I do on clay,” the sixth-ranked Inexperienced joked in his on-court interview. “This was an unimaginable struggle and an unimaginable battle. I do know it may be tough for one individual to take care of the loss, however I feel for tennis it’s nice that we’re in a position to play at this excessive stage and present our sport [at its limits].”Ricky contributes to10sballs.com and in addition maintains his personal tennis web site, The Grandstand. You’ll be able to comply with him on twitter at @Dimonator.
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