De Minaur knocks out Fritz to keep ATP Finals hopes alive / Photo: Marco BERTORELLO - AFP
De Minaur knocks out Fritz to keep ATP Finals hopes alive
Alex de Minaur kept alive his chances of reaching the last four of the ATP Finals on Thursday after beating Taylor Fritz in straight sets 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 in Turin.
Australia's De Minaur had to win in straight sets in order to have any chance of making it out of the Jimmy Connors Group, and he now needs Carlos Alcaraz to beat Lorenzo Musetti later on Thursday in order to book his place in the semi-finals.
Should Alcaraz beat local hero Musetti, as he is widely expected to, seventh seed De Minaur will take second place in the group.
Hard court specialist De Minaur won his 43rd match of the season on the surface, the most on the men's tour, and was too much for Fritz once he prevailed in the first set tie-break.
Defeat for Fritz in one hour and 35 minutes ended the American's participation in this year's edition of the prestigious end-of-season tournament.
Alcaraz is now guaranteed a spot in the semi-finals but still needs to beat Musetti to both secure first place in the group and claim the year-end number one ranking for the second time.
If Musetti beats Alcaraz and joins Jannik Sinner in the next round it will be the first time two Italians have reached the semis in the history of the tournament.
J.Pizarro--ECdLR
