Taylor Fritz of United States in motion in opposition to Lorenzo Musetti of Italy within the fourth spherical of the lads’s singles on the Australian Open at Rod Laver Area in Melbourne Park. Picture: Reuters/File
LONDON:
High-seeded Taylor Fritz fought off a stiff check from U.S. countryman Marcos Giron to earn a 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (1) win within the first spherical of the Nexo Dallas Open on Tuesday.
Fritz posted a 21-9 edge in aces and gained 81% of his first-serve factors. Nevertheless, he managed to interrupt Giron’s serve in simply two of his 10 alternatives.
Second-seeded Ben Shelton of the USA bested Canada’s Gabriel Diallo 6-4, 6-4, however two different seeded gamers fell. Nice Britain’s Jack Pinnington Jones trounced fourth-seeded Flavio Cobolli of Italy 6-2, 6-2, and Croatia’s Marin Cilic edged sixth-seeded Learner Tien of the U.S. 7-5, 7-6 (4).
It was the 600th profession ATP Tour win for Cilic, 37, who joined Serbia’s Novak Djokovic (1,168) as the one lively gamers to achieve that milestone. He additionally handed Goran Ivanisevic’s complete of 599 wins to prime the all-time record amongst Croatians.
Different winners have been Aleksandar Kovacevic and Alex Michelsen of the USA and Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia.
Within the final match of the night time, defending champion Denis Shapovalov of Canada, the seventh seed, blitzed Spanish qualifier Rafael Jodar 6-1, 6-2.
ABN Amro Open
Serbia’s Hamad Medjedovic, a fortunate loser from qualifying, took benefit of his late entry into the occasion at Rotterdam, Netherlands, and defeated Belgium’s Zizou Bergs 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5) within the first spherical.
Medjedovic, who entered the draw when Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan withdrew, trailed 5-2 within the first set and fought off a set level within the subsequent sport earlier than capturing the tiebreaker. The gamers exchanged service breaks within the eleventh and twelfth video games of the second set, and Medjedovic once more got here by in a tiebreaker.
High-seeded Alex de Minaur of Australia downed France’s Arthur Fils 7-6 (3), 6-2, and the Netherlands’ Tallon Griekspoor beat France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-4, 6-4. France’s Quentin Halys and Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff additionally superior.
IEB+ Argentina Open
Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo pulled off a first-round upset in his residence land, defeating fifth-seeded Daniel Altmaier of Germany 6-2, 6-2 in Buenos Aires.
Altmaier struggled together with his serve, placing simply 69% of his first serves in play and profitable solely 35% of his second serves. He additionally dedicated 30 unforced errors to Cerundolo’s 9.
Sixth-seeded Camilo Ugo Carabelli gained an all-Argentine matchup in opposition to Francisco Comesana 6-4, 7-6 (3), and eighth-seeded Matteo Berrettini of Italy ousted Argentina’s Federico Coria 7-5, 7-5. Additionally shifting on have been the Czech Republic’s Tomas Barrios Vera, Argentina’s Roman Andres Burruchaga and Peru’s Ignacio Buse.
Devoted Cilic
Former U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic stated that becoming a member of an elite membership of gamers with a minimum of 600 match wins on the ATP Tour was proof of his dedication to the game after battling by a number of injury-ravaged seasons.
The 37-year-old, who has had two knee surgical procedures since 2023, downed American Learner Tien 7-5 7-6(4) on the Dallas Open on Tuesday to achieve the milestone, placing him second behind Novak Djokovic (1,168 wins) amongst lively gamers.
“It has been so tough these final couple of years, I used to be battling by many issues,” stated Cilic, who additionally went previous Croatian compatriot Goran Ivanisevic’s profession tally of 599 tour-level victories.
“Simply to get to this degree, enjoying this properly in opposition to guys like Learner, who’s an unimaginable participant and may have a improbable profession, is only a pleasure.
“To get this milestone speaks volumes about my dedication to tennis, dwelling on this sport for thus a few years. It is given me a lot pleasure and I find it irresistible. It is enjoyable to be out right here nonetheless competing and I can not be happier.”
Cilic, who claimed his solely Grand Slam trophy at Flushing Meadows in 2014, tore the lateral meniscus on his proper knee in 2023 and underwent surgical procedure. That was adopted by one other in 2024 following difficulties in his restoration.
The previous world quantity three bounced again on the largest stage by reaching the fourth spherical of Wimbledon final yr and the third spherical of the Australian Open final month.
Cilic will face one other American in Dallas with both Trevor Svajda or Ethan Quinn up subsequent.
