Taylor Fritz didn’t have a lot of a clay court docket season, however he’s up and working on the grass.
The Southern Cal native, who misplaced his solely match on the clay this spring, edged out 20-year-old Martin Landaluce in three units in Stuttgart to realize his 350th profession victory on the ATP Tour.
“#50 is cool, I’d wish to get to 500, that’s an excellent purpose,” Fritz mentioned after his 6-7(4), 7-5, 7-6(3) win. “However I’m simply attempting to remain wholesome and play some good tennis.”
Fritz turned the one energetic American to earn 350 wins as he notched his first win since Miami. The No.2 seed, who’s the defending champion on the grass in Stuttgart, will face Italy’s Mattia Bellucci within the second spherical.
“I feel typically you simply need to play your self into the match,” Fritz mentioned. “I felt like because the match went on I began taking part in higher and higher so that offers me a whole lot of confidence going into the subsequent match.”
Fourth-seeded Jiri Lehecka (d. Duckworth 6-7(8), 6-4, 7-6(3)) and sixth-seeded Frances Tiafoe (d. Hijikata 6-4, 6-4) have been additionally winners on Thursday in Stuttgart. Nick Kyrgios was knocked off by Japanese qualifier Sho Shimabukuro, 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4.
Tiafoe, the 2023 champion in Stuttgart, reached his fiftieth profession ATP quarterfinal.
Kyrgios, 31, earned his first win in 15 months in his first spherical win over Corentin Moutet.
