Taylor Fritz will compete in the last 16 at the Miami Open. The top-ranked American beat Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 6-4 in the third round, scoring his fourth triumph over the Canadian from nine encounters. Taylor is 3-1 against Denis in the last two seasons, holding everything under control in their latest duel. Fritz won ten points more than Shapovalov and never faced a break point. The struggling Canadian felt the pressure and cracked under it after dropping serve once in each set. The American fired 13 winners and 18 unforced errors, not performing at his best but still overpowering the rival’s 23-34 ratio. Taylor played better in the shortest and mid-range exchanges to control the pace and bring the victory home in an hour and 20 minutes. Shapovalov held from 0-30 in the encounter’s first game and reached a couple of deuces on the return in game two. Fritz held for 1-1 and grabbed the fourth game with a forehand down the line winner.
Taylor Fritz scored his fourth victory over Denis Shapovalov from nine encounters.
A left-hander produced a hold at love in game five with a mighty forehand winner, and the home star responded with a hold at 15 a few minutes later to lock the result at 3-3. Denis squandered a game point and got broken after a double fault in game seven to fall 4-3 behind. The Canadian missed a routine forehand in the eighth game, and the American confirmed the break and moved 5-3 up. Fritz served for the opener in game ten and wrapped it up with an ace for 6-4 after 39 minutes. Shapovalov played a terrible service game at 1-1 in the second set and sprayed a forehand mistake to fall a set and a break down.
The Canadian extended the fourth game with a powerful forehand winner before playing a loose backhand to hand the game to his rival. Denis saved a break point with a forehand crosscourt winner in game five to remain within one break deficit. Taylor moved 4-2 up with an unreturned serve and held at love in game eight after Denis’ backhand error to forge a 5-3 advantage. Shapovalov served to stay in the match in game nine and blasted an ace to prolong the action. Fritz served for the victory in game ten and fired a service winner to seal the deal and advance into the last 16.
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