SHANGHAI/STARNBERG, October 7, 2024
Two US-Americans headlined Monday’s second-round action at the Rolex Shanghai Masters. Taylor Fritz defeated French qualifier Terence Atmane 7-6(4), 7-6(5) in a match that was suspended with Fritz leading 4-3 on serve on Saturday.
The No. 7 seed of the ATP Masters 1000 event being held at the Qi Zhong Tennis Center withstood 14 aces and won three points less than his opponent but prevailed after two hours and two minutes.
2 days later… @Taylor_Fritz97 gets it done vs Atmane 7-6 7-6 two days after the start of the match #RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/Ty7ycJ31nA
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 7, 2024
“I think his ability to basically hit a winner from anywhere on the court made it very tough,” said Fritz. “Because sometimes I almost felt like if I wanted to be the aggressor in the rally, I had to go on when I maybe didn’t want to go on. Then sometimes I had to take just a more defensive, solid approach to the points, let him pull the trigger and if he makes it, he makes it.
“That uncertainty of, ‘What if he does make it?’ is always uncomfortable. He was playing really well, serving well on big points, so it’s great to get through that in two sets.” Up next for Fritz will be Japan’s Yosuke Watanuki.
Frances Tiafoe made a solid start to his Shanghai campaign. The No. 13 seed defeated #NextGenATP home favourite Zhou Yi 6-2, 6-4. It was a first win in Shanghai since 2017 for Tiafoe, who will next play Roman Safiullin. The World No. 61 from Russia upset 23rd seed Alexander Bublik from Kazakhstan 6-4, 6-2 in a match moved to an indoor court because of bad weather.
