Fritz, Nishikori Qualify Into Atlanta 2023 Quarter-finals

Taylor Fritz, c. Wolff, Dominik Kupfer and Kei Nishikori won Thursday to reach the quarter-finals of the Atlanta Open.

Taylor Fritz took an early lead against Wu Yiping on Thursday and hasn’t looked back to reach the quarter-finals of the Atlanta Open.

The top seed relied on his massive serve in key moments to defeat Wu 6-4, 7-6 (5) after 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Fritz started quickly, taking a 4–0 lead to start the evening session at Atlantic Station and winning 81% of his first serve points to advance.

“Just a few points here and there,” Fritz said in an interview with the court.

“I had a couple of chances and he had a few.

“Things could go either way, I barely got the points I needed to win.”

In the second set, the California native saved two set points at 4-5.

Fritz then hit three consecutive aces from 30/40 to close out the match and then finished the match with a second set tiebreaker.

Fritz, 25, avenged his Dallas Open semi-final loss this year to Wu, who was eventually crowned ATP 250 champion to claim his first championship-level title.

Their Lexus ATPHead2Head line is currently tied 1-1. You might also like: Boom & Bust: Fritz says flipping has its rewards Fritz, world number nine in the ATP rankings for Pepperstone, is chasing his second Tour-level title of the season, after winning his fifth ATP Tour title in Delray Beach in February.

He will meet former world number four Kei Nishikori, who defeated Zhang Juncheng 6-4, 7-6(3). Fritz will be aiming for his first Lexus ATPHead2Head win over the Japanese Superstar (0-3).

And in other matches in Atlanta, German Dominique Kupfer came back against third seed Daniel Evans 2-6, 7-6(3), 6-4. World number 88 Kupfer saved three match points at 3-5, 0/40 in the second set and then broke Evans’ serve as the Briton worked to secure a place at the end of the quarter in the next game. Evans, 33, is a championship-level seven-rounder. Next, Kupfer will meet eighth seed JJ.

Wolf, who beat compatriot Maxime Cressi 7-6 (7), 6-3, advanced to the eighth round. Wolf saved a set point at 6/7 in the first period before hitting three straight goals. No. 46 in the world in the fourth quarter of the season.