Alexander Zverev, a French Open finalist this season, had been flawless in the group stage, winning all three matches without dropping serve. However, Taylor Fritz snapped that streak with an impressive opening set. 

The German battled back in the second, levelling the match before a nail-biting third set filled with clutch service holds and saved break points on both sides ensued.

Fritz held his nerve in the decisive tie-break to claim a well-earned victory and stem Zverev’s eight-match win streak.

Taylor Fritz names the surprise opponent he feels most ‘uncomfortable’ against

Fritz’s steady rise to a career-high world number four has been marked by a series of impressive victories, with the American reaching his first Grand Slam final this year.

However, the 26-year-old is no stranger to the challenges posed by different styles of play at the top level.

With his baseline power and serve consistency, he often feels confident against a range of opponents but acknowledges that certain players pose unique difficulties.

Reflecting on his experiences against the sport’s elite, Fritz shared his perspective on which opponents test him the most.

“I wouldn’t say Sacha [Zverev] is an uncomfortable or a comfortable match up. I would say there are a lot of match ups where I just feel pretty neutral.

“Carlos is uncomfortable but when I played him at Laver Cup it was Carlos at a really high level, so that didn’t feel good. US Open against Jannik was pretty uncomfortable but I felt not too uncomfortable in our match earlier this week, it felt fine.

“Demon [Alex de Minaur] is pretty uncomfortable. I think I would have to say Novak is pretty uncomfortable being 0-10!

“And you know what is a weird one, Yoshi [Nishioka] just owns me. I got him once but he is not fun for me to play, he is just really good, he seems like the best player in the world when I play him.”

Indeed, despite Fritz winning their most recent clash – Vienna 2022 – Yoshihito Nishioka has won the other three. It is especially striking given all their matches have taken place on Fritz’s favorite surface – hard-courts.

Taylor Fritz has enjoyed an unforgettable 2024 season

Fritz has enjoyed an unforgettable 2024 season, marked by two ATP titles and a bronze medal in doubles at the Olympics.

This year, he also broke his Grand Slam quarter-final curse with a thrilling victory over Zverev at Wimbledon, propelling him into the semi-finals for the first time.

Fritz then reached new heights at the US Open, making his first Grand Slam final but falling to Jannik Sinner in a one-sided match on home soil. 

Now, in a rematch of that final, Fritz faces Sinner again at the ATP Finals, someone he has already lost to in the group stage this week. 

Despite the odds, Fritz has a chance to flip the script and claim revenge in front of an enthusiastic Turin crowd.

A win would not only crown his career-best season but also signal his arrival as a force to be reckoned with at the sport’s highest level.

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