By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday November 16, 2024
Taylor Fritz is hoping to do the unthinkable in opposition to the unplayable on Sunday in Turin.
That’s the setup for the American, who will bid to turn out to be 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 in opposition to 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 in opposition to Sinner however he believes he’s making strides in opposition to the Italian even when he has misplaced the final six units the pair have contested with out a 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 quite a bit nearer than it seemed.
“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 massive 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 similar to 4 and 4. Like I mentioned, he performed the massive factors higher. He is the most effective participant on the earth. He is enjoying with quite a lot of confidence. That is one thing that you must anticipate from him, to play the massive factors very well.
“I’ve made quite a lot of enhancements in my sport. 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 effectively, it units up the remainder of my sport for failure, I might say.
This time round, Fritz says he doesn’t want to vary a lot. He merely must rise to the event.
“The way in which I performed in opposition to him within the group stage was the proper approach to play,” he mentioned. “I believe if I serve a bit higher within the two video games I acquired damaged, actually play one or two factors higher within the return sport 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 massive factors extremely effectively.
“However I would not change something. I actually imagine the match within the group stage was nearer than you may suppose by simply wanting on the rating.”
