By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday November 16, 2024
Taylor Fritz is hoping to do the unthinkable towards the unplayable on Sunday in Turin.
That’s the setup for the American, who will bid to develop into the primary man from his nation to win an ATP Finals since Pete Sampras in 1999 when he meets World No.1 and closely favourite Jannik Sinner within the last.
Sinner has taken maintain of his head-to-head towards Fritz in 2024, defeating the American within the US Open last in three uncomplicated units after which knocking him off in spherical robin play earlier this week in Turin, 6-4, 6-4.
Fritz is now 1-3 with three consecutive losses towards Sinner however he believes he’s making strides towards the Italian even when he has misplaced the final six units the pair have contested with no single tiebreak.
On Saturday, after knocking off World No.2 Alexander Zverev within the semifinals, Fritz advised reporters that his 6-4, 6-4 defeat by the hands of Sinner earlier within the week was rather a lot nearer than it appeared.
“I felt way more snug from the baseline,” he mentioned of the loss. “I had my probabilities in that match. I had probabilities to interrupt him in each units. He had an equal quantity of probabilities, and he took his. He performed the large factors higher than I did within the group stage match.
The loss was a step up from his 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 loss to Sinner in Flushing Meadows in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
A US Open last rematch…Predictions?#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/Oql98zO3si
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 16, 2024
“It did not really feel wherever close to as one-sided because the Open,” Fritz mentioned. “I felt just like the match for me felt nearer than identical to 4 and 4. Like I mentioned, he performed the large factors higher. He is the perfect participant on the planet. He is enjoying with a whole lot of confidence. That is one thing that you must count on from him, to play the large factors rather well.
“I’ve made a whole lot of enhancements in my recreation. For me on the US Open, the most important factor was that I simply did not actually play nice. I did not serve nice. If I do not serve properly, it units up the remainder of my recreation for failure, I might say.
This time round, Fritz says he doesn’t want to alter a lot. He merely must rise to the event.
“The way in which I performed towards him within the group stage was the right strategy to play,” he mentioned. “I believe if I serve a bit higher within the two video games I received damaged, actually play one or two factors higher within the return recreation the place I had my probabilities, it could possibly be a distinct match. Clearly that is an enormous ask as a result of he is enjoying the large factors extremely properly.
“However I would not change something. I actually imagine the match within the group stage was nearer than you may suppose by simply trying on the rating.”
