Teen triumph Fritz, 18, knocks off second-seeded Johnson
The Memphis Open, an ATP World Tour event that has introduced crowds at The Racquet Club to promising American teenagers before in its 40-year history, could have another on the verge of a career breakthrough.
Taylor Fritz, an 18-yearold from Rancho Santa Fe, California, produced the biggest upset of the week — and the biggest win of his fledgling career — by knocking off No. 2 seed, and frequent practice partner, Steve Johnson 7-6 (5), 7-6 (7).
Fritz, a wild-card entry and last year’s No. 1-ranked junior in the world, overcame a shaky start behind a powerful all-around game that displayed a mix of touch, power and tennis savvy. He overcame having his serve broken in the match’s opening game and he sidestepped being down 2-4, 15-40 in the opening set, recovering to force the first of two tiebreakers.
“I practice with him all the time, and he always breaks me in the first game,” Fritz said. “We play a fair amount of practice sets, and I usually don’t do so well.”
Thursday night wasn’t the practice courts in Carson, California. He won points in spectacular fashion, with lobs, overhead winners from the baseline, touch volleys and a drop shot that clipped the top of the net.
In the second-set tiebreaker, he saved a set point before winning the match by stepping into a backhand return and smacking a winner down the line.
“I thought he played the best he’s played on this level by far,” said Johnson, ranked 29th in the world. “I had a lot of chances, but he somehow won all the big points. It’s a tough one for me, but it’s not the end of the world.”
Fritz advances to play veteran Benjamin Becker of
of Germany in Friday’s qua r ter f i na l s . Joi n i ng them in the quarterfinals Thursday were American Donald Young and Ricardas Berankis.
Becker advanced by upsetting No. 7 seed John Millman of Australia and nearly needed three sets to do so. Becker led 5-1 in the second-set tiebreak before recovering to advance with a 6-2, 7- 6(6) win
Another seed, No. 8 Damir Dzumhur, was eliminated by Berankis, 6-3, 6-4.
Top seed and threetime defending champion Kei Nishikori and No. 4 seed Sam Querrey, the 2010 champion, play their quarterfinal matches Friday. Nishikori meets Mikhail Kukushkin and Querrey will play qualifier Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan.
Appearing in only the t hi rd ATP Tour-level tournament of his career, Fritz called the victory “my best ever” and one “I’ll never forget.”
He became the f irst American 18-year-old to reach an ATP Tour-level quarterfinal since Denis Kudla in 2011 at Newport, Rhode Island.
Fr it z sa id t he momentum of the match changed when he was able to break Johnson in the first set for a 4-all tie after having saved the two break points the previous game.
“That was the turning point for me,” Fritz said. “That’s when I was able to get back into the match and start playing.”
With his win 6-1, 7-6 (2) win over Marcel Granollers on Thursday, Young reached the quarterfinals in Memphis for the second straight year.
“(Granollers) is a competitor,” Young said. “So he tried different things and he raised his game and I had to raise mine. In the end, I was able to get a few more (winning) shots than him and put him in some weird positions.”
Young reached t he semifinals of the Memphis Open last year, his best result at The Racquet Club.
“That’s the best I’ve played this year and it’s great to do it here, at home (in the U.S. six hours from his Atlanta residence),” Young said. “I’m happy about my performance.”
. Taylor Frit z reached the quar ter finals by defeating second-seeded Steve Johnson 7-6 (5), 7-6 (7) on Thursday night in the Memphis Open at The Racquet Club.