MEMPHIS, February 15, 2017
In a stunning comeback 2016 Memphis Open presented by Service Master finalist Taylor Fritz saved three match points to upset eighth-seed Yen-Hsun Lu 4-6, 7-6, 7-6 on Tuesday. It was a thrilling, tough match and the one thing in Fritz’s mind was not to lose.
“These are the moments I play for, the pressure moments, that’s my favorite things about this sport,” Fritz said. “I was just thinking I didn’t want to lose. Sometime you just find a way … you can’t explain it.”
Darian King may not be the most recognized name outside his island paradise home of Barbados but the 24-year-old has scored the biggest win of his career. King advanced through the qualifying rounds to reach the main draw and there he upset the fifth seed Bernard Tomic of Australia 6-4, 6-4.
“Playing Bernard, the fifth seed, and beating him is a dream come true,” King said after his first ever Tour level win in just his second such event.
“(Tennis) on Barbados is not as big and coming from there to come and compete against these guys is a lot of progress. I’m glad to get my first ATP win. Hopefully I can continue this run; I’m glad for this win and glad for the win for Barbados.”
US-American Ryan Harrison accounted for Russian Konstantin Kravchuk 6-3, 7-5 which has set Harrison up for a second round match with third-seed and friend Sam Querrey. That will guarantee an US-American in the quarterfinals. There’s a similar situation with Donald Young and Reilly Opelka who advanced the day before.
A tussle between two qualifiers, Aussie Matthew Ebden and Canadian Peter Polansky, resulted in Ebden rallying from a set down to win 6-7, 6-3, 6-1 while 2008 winner and this year’s 7th seed Steve Darcis survived a tight match against Radu Albot 7-5, 3-6, 6-4.
The final match of day two saw qualifier Tim Smyczek defeat wild card Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.
Action Continues Wednesday
Day three singles action will see Dustin Brown with his long flowing braids playing Mikhail Kukushkin, Young faces Opelka, and at night second seed John Isner faces Yoshihito Nishioka.
The Japanese player said of his first match against Isner that he hopes to get “a chance to break his serve once.” He added: “The first thing I must remember is to focus on my service games and the second is to get a chance on Isner’s service games.”
Closing out Stadium Court will be Querrey and Harrison. Meanwhile in singles on Grandstand Aussie Jordan Thompson plays Nikoloz Basilashvili and Damir Dzumhur plays Darcis.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: Darian King following his upset over 5th seed Bernard Tomic – “I put on my Instagram post this is only stuff I see on TV. I’m glad to be here and play Bernard on Center Court is a great win. You don’t normally get this in Barbados; having stands and stuff around you. I should be nervous but I owned this opportunity.”
ACTIVITY OF THE DAY: Damir Dzumhur met up with 100 school children sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield and spoke to them about how he got into tennis, his life in tennis, how he trains. He took questions from the children and provided them with much encouragement. The children were given lunch, they watched players practice and each one was given a new tennis racquet
