Fritz grinds out Paris win to hold Turin line

Under the resonant hum of the Paris Masters indoor arena, Taylor Fritz delivered a 7-6(4), 6-2 victory over Aleksandar Vukic that felt like a calculated hold in a high-stakes poker game. The fourth-seeded American fired 12 aces and clubbed 10 forehand winners, his serve acting as the anchor amid Vukic’s probing returns on the swift hard courts. This result, marking his 52nd win of the season, kept him at fifth in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin, even as Ben Shelton, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Daniil Medvedev advanced on the same Tuesday, tightening the field for the Nitto ATP Finals.

First set demands patient returns

Vukic’s serve ruled the early exchanges, landing with 80 percent first-serve accuracy that pinned Fritz into stretched crosscourt replies and occasional underspin lobs to buy time. The Australian’s precision forced the American deeper behind the baseline, where his inside-out forehands began to carve angles, testing the edges of Vukic’s defense without yielding ground. As the set edged toward a tiebreak, the crowd’s anticipation thickened the air, each hold amplifying the psychological weight of the Turin pursuit after Fritz’s loss to Jannik Sinner in last year’s season finale.

The tiebreak turned on Vukic‘s three missed first serves, allowing Fritz to unleash a down-the-line backhand that shifted momentum, his composure under the lights a quiet nod to the mental grind of holding off challengers. Fritz later reflected on the opener’s intensity, noting how Vukic’s delivery hit spots relentlessly until the decider exposed cracks.

Second set breaks into dominance

With the first set secured, Fritz quickened his step in the second, breaking Vukic twice through a one–two rhythm of wide serves followed by crosscourt forehands that pulled the Australian off the court. His net approaches added pressure, volleying short balls back with slice to disrupt rhythm, the indoor bounce amplifying the snap of each redirected shot. The shift wasn’t merely tactical; it mirrored a release of tension from the 2024 US Open final run, where the stakes had forged a sharper edge to his game.

The Paris faithful sensed the tide turning, their cheers echoing off the rafters with every point gained, fueling Fritz’s surge toward a decisive close. This efficiency preserved energy for the weeks ahead, underscoring his adaptation to the faster surfaces that reward bold patterns over prolonged rallies.

Next round promises unpredictable chaos

Awaiting in the third round is the winner between 13th seed Alexander Bublik and Corentin Moutet, a clash of styles brimming with drop shots and erratic spins that could unravel even the steadiest resolve. Fritz anticipates the discomfort, knowing both opponents excel at turning points into improvisational puzzles on the hard courts. He emphasized the mental preparation needed, drawing from the opener’s lessons in patience.

As the Paris Masters deepens, Fritz’s steady opener positions him to weather the late-season storm, but adapting to such variety will test whether his Turin aspirations hold firm amid the rivals’ advances.