Taylor Fritz bounced back from a slow start on Monday at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia to break a three-match losing streak.
The American won five straight games from a 1-3 deficit in the first set en route to a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Briton Daniel Evans, the recent Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters semi-finalist.
[WATCH LIVE 1]
“I was really frustrated to give away the early break,” said Fritz. “He played two pretty good points, then I missed two forehands. I thought I was hitting the ball really well right from the beginning. I just told myself not to get too upset about it, as I was playing well. Dan has been playing well lately, beating Novak in Monte-Carlo, so it’s great to get a strong win. I am going to try my best [against Djokovic].”
The 23-year-old Fritz, who reached the last four at the Sardegna Open in Cagliari (l. to Sonego), is now 11-9 on the season and will play World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, the five-time Rome champion, in the second round.
“We played twice on clay in 2018, in Monte-Carlo and Madrid,” said Fritz, looking ahead to the Djokovic match. “I got beaten pretty bad those two times. I feel better prepared to play him now, after the match in Australia.”
Djokovic beat Fritz 7-6(1), 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-2 in the Australian Open third round in February.
The American won five straight games from a 1-3 deficit in the first set en route to a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Briton Daniel Evans, the recent Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters semi-finalist.
[WATCH LIVE 1]
“I was really frustrated to give away the early break,” said Fritz. “He played two pretty good points, then I missed two forehands. I thought I was hitting the ball really well right from the beginning. I just told myself not to get too upset about it, as I was playing well. Dan has been playing well lately, beating Novak in Monte-Carlo, so it’s great to get a strong win. I am going to try my best [against Djokovic].”
The 23-year-old Fritz, who reached the last four at the Sardegna Open in Cagliari (l. to Sonego), is now 11-9 on the season and will play World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, the five-time Rome champion, in the second round.
“We played twice on clay in 2018, in Monte-Carlo and Madrid,” said Fritz, looking ahead to the Djokovic match. “I got beaten pretty bad those two times. I feel better prepared to play him now, after the match in Australia.”
Djokovic beat Fritz 7-6(1), 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-2 in the Australian Open third round in February.