Taylor Fritz opened his 2025 ATP Finals campaign with a convincing straight-sets win over Lorenzo Musetti.
Musetti missed out on automatic qualification after losing to Djokovic in Athens, but the Serbian had backed him to make the field anyway.
Fritz carried his good form from practice into the match and made quick work of Musetti. Tim Henman praised Fritz’s performance, and the American seemed pleased with how he played too.
What Taylor Fritz said about beating Musetti
“It’s not always about playing your best tennis. It’s about being able to compete and find ways to win matches,” said Fritz. “I did feel like I was playing some really good tennis.”
“So many matches were close, ones that I feel like I should have been winning that weren’t going my way,” Fritz continued. “I was just telling myself that as long as I keep doing what I’m doing then it will turn around.”
Fritz believes he has a strong chance of making it to the final four in Turin this year: “If you’re here competing for one of those semi-final spots, there isn’t really anyone you can look at who doesn’t have a chance at going through,” Fritz told Sportskeeda via Eucario Calderon (Sportskeeda). “So yeah, why not? If there is ever a time for me to believe in myself and back myself up, it’s right now.”
Taylor Fritz explains approach that worked against Lorenzo Musetti
Fritz has another tough test ahead of him with Carlos Alcaraz, but he’s shown earlier this season that he can compete with the Spaniard when his game is sharp.
Speaking after his win over Musetti, Fritz was asked about what aspects of his game stood out and how he approached the matchup. He provided some detail on his strategy and execution.
When discussing his serve, Fritz said: “I think it’s more probably the quality of the serve. For me, I’m serving for, like, lines. I’m never serving to kind of put it in. I’d rather miss my serve than make it and it not be very good.
“I think I did a good job mixing up the serve. Yeah, I feel like I’m hitting the spots pretty well on the serve.” And on how Musetti typically handles returns:
“To be honest, I think one of the things he’s always done really well against me is neutralise my first serve. I think he’s very good at chipping the return deep and putting it in positions where it’s tough for me to attack.
“I wouldn’t say it’s his return because I think that’s been one of the things that’s made it tough for me to play him in the past if you are asking him about what area you can expose.”
The American credited several improvements in his game over the past year as key factors heading into this year’s tournament.
Musetti helped open up space down both wings by pulling Taylor away from centre court often – a tactic you have to employ with someone who plays closer to baseline than others.
Taylor Fritz sends Carlos Alcaraz warning after ATP Finals win over Musetti
The two met back at Indian Wells where Taylor won before losing to Casper Ruud in straight sets during this year’s Grand Slam quarter-finals – so there will be plenty riding on Tuesday’s match-up between them again just months later!
Fritz rarely complains about the demands of the tour, instead choosing to focus on his game and let his results speak for him. That attitude has quietly earned him respect within the sport.
While a Grand Slam title has remained out of reach, he’s made clear progress in recent seasons, including both final and semi-final appearances. The gap between potential and reality seems to be closing.
READ MORE: Rafael Nadal settles the debate with his own tennis Mount Rushmore picks
After a surprise early exit from the Paris Masters, Fritz should arrive in Turin with fresher legs than many of his rivals – a factor that could play into his hands during what is always a gruelling week.
If he’s going to lift the trophy, it will likely mean getting past Alcaraz and probably Jannik Sinner as well. But given how he’s playing and how sharp he looked against Musetti, it wouldn’t be wise to count him out just yet.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
