The 26-year-old American number one, Taylor Fritz has been on a roller coaster ride ever since his arrival at the biggest stage of the racket sport. After a stellar season last year where he defeated Rafael Nadal (6-3,7-6) to win his first Masters 1000 crown, he is yet to leave a mark this year.?While his campaign in the Paris Masters got off to a flying start after defeating Argentina’s Sebastian Baez (6-1,6-4) in the first round, the victory didn’t turn out to be too comfortable at the end.
In terms of potential, the top-ranked American player Taylor Fritz certainly has an abundance of it. But after seeing off Nadal’s first defeat in 2022, he has failed to achieve big results at bigger events. Recently, he faced a defeat at the hands of Alexander Shevchenko in an end-to-end battle of Round of 16 at Swiss Indoors on October 26. Can he do it in the City of Light?
An injury concern dampening the victory celebration of Taylor Fritz in Paris
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After delivering a clinical performance in the first match at the Paris Masters, Fritz has managed to keep his hope alive for the qualification at Nitto ATP Finals. However, the 26-year-old reported feeling discomfort in his left abdomen and had to take a sudden medical time-out. The physio had to be called in the midway through the second set. He was also heard complaining about an illness he was suffering over the last week, which resulted in incessant coughing. By the initial looks of it, it seemed like he felt that the cough might have aggravated his abdominal muscles.
?It?s something that?s been bothering me for a little bit… I didn?t think it was anything too bad going in [to this match], but one where I slid out and sliced that forehand, I felt like I did something that I had never done to it before,” said Taylor Fritz. “Like maybe I tore something or pulled it. So I?m going to have to get it checked out and see what?s going on,? he added later on.
Despite the discomfort, he managed to sustain for 70 minutes and clinch a thumping victory over his Argentine opponent. With this win, he has regained his number 9 spot after moving above Hubert Hurkacz in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings. Ups and downs have been a part of the journey for Taylor Fritz recently. Can he overcome his injury concern and end the season on a high note? Only time will tell.
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Injuries have been part and parcel of Fritz’s journey to the top
The pride of the ‘Golden State‘ stunned the tennis world when he defeated Rafael Nadal at the Indian Wells Masters?last year. Both of them battled with injuries and reached the finals. Taylor Fritz was seen struggling with an ankle injury which he had sustained during the semi-finals of the tournament. He hobbled, he collapsed. But he didn’t give up. Frtiz didn’t want to miss the opportunity to beat the best in front of his home crowd. He eventually succeeded in creating the moment which he will remember for his lifetime. Oh Boy! The stubborn young lad proved his mettle that day.
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But it didn’t take long for the Spaniard to give back the American the taste of his own medicine. He defeated Taylor Fritz in the QFs of Wimbledon in the same year. This time Nadal battled with injury problems and defied all the pains to reach the semis. The American failed to bury the wounded lion in a 4-hour 20 20-minute epic encounter. However, Frtiz’s best results in majors came when he reached the QFs of?Wimbledon?2022 and?US Open?2023. Can he bring back his glorious days yet again? Share your thoughts on this.
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