Fritz beats Tiafoe to clinch Japan Open victory

The world’s top-ranked men’s tennis player Alexander Zverev has withdrawn from the Japan Open due to exhaustion. Now, in order to claim his third ATP title of the year, he will have to watch as others do battle for glory on Sunday in Tokyo.

Japan Open Tennis

Fritz had to work hard for his victory over Tiafoe, coming from a set down to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Fritz will be pleased with his performance as he looks to build on his strong start to the season.

This is Fritz’s second ATP Tour title of the year and he will be looking to add more silverware to his collection in the coming months.

John Isner and Jack Sock both win three rounds each

John Isner and Jack Sock both won three rounds each at the Japan Open. Fritz beat Tiafoe to clinch the victory. This is the first time that two American men have ever won three rounds each at a single Grand Slam event.

Kei Nishikori wins rain-delayed Shenzhen title

It was a rematch of last year’s final, and once again, Kei Nishikori came out on top, defeating Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 6-4 to win the rain-delayed Shenzhen Open.

Nishikori had to save two match points in the second set before finally prevailing in just over two hours. It is his first title since winning at Memphis in 2016 and comes after a difficult few years hampered by injuries.

“I’m very happy to win my first title in three years,” said Nishikori. “It’s been a tough couple of years with injuries, so I’m very relieved and happy to be back winning.”

Shapovalov, who is still just 20 years old, put up a brave fight but ultimately came up just short against the more experienced Nishikori. He will take solace from the fact that he pushed the Japanese star all the way and will no doubt be back stronger for next year’s tournament.

Roger Federer loses to Thanasi Kokkinakis in Stuttgart quarterfinals

In a stunning upset, 20-year-old Thanasi Kokkinakis defeated Roger Federer in the quarterfinals of the Stuttgart Open. Kokkinakis, who is ranked 75th in the world, beat Federer 6-4, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (4) in a match that lasted over three hours.

This is the first time Kokkinakis has ever beaten Federer, and it comes just weeks after he knocked out Stan Wawrinka in the second round of Wimbledon. With this win, Kokkinakis becomes the first Australian to reach the semifinals of a Masters tournament since Lleyton Hewitt did it in 2013.

Kokkinakis will now face either Lucas Pouille or Jeremy Chardy in the semifinals.

Philipp Kohlschreiber d. Marco Cecchinato in title match at Moscow Kremlin Cup

In the final of the Japan Open, American Taylor Fritz defeated Italy’s Marco Cecchinato 6-4, 6-2 to claim his second ATP Tour title.

Fritz, who is ranked 27th in the world, took control of the match from the outset and never looked back as he wrapped up victory in just over an hour.

The 20-year-old hit 11 aces and didn’t face a break point en route to victory.

It was a impressive performance from Fritz, who beat Cecchinato for the loss of just four games.

Cachinnator, who is ranked 32nd in the world, put up a brave fight but ultimately came up short against a superior opponent.

Conclusion

In a hard-fought match, Fritz fought back from a set down to beat Tiafoe and clinch the Japan Open title. This was Fritz’s first ATP Tour win, and it will surely give him the confidence boost he needs to compete at the highest level. With this win, Fritz has established himself as a rising star in men’s tennis, and we can expect big things from him in the future.