ATP Finals: Taylor Fritz, Novak Djokovic and the depth of space
Taylor Fritz goes into the semi-finals of the ATP Finals 2022 with a 0: 5 record against Novak Djokovic . After Djokovic's sometimes strange performance against Daniil Medvedev , the American should not be without a chance.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Nov 19, 2022, 09:21 am
By Jens Huiber from Turin
Maybe it's the special shape of the Pala Alpitour that makes the distance from the baselines to the advertising boards appear wider than anywhere else in the tennis world (not even on the Philippe-Chatrier Court in London). In any case, the staff responsible for the sidelines must be blessed with eagle eyes, the field is almost in a different zip code district when viewed from their seats. Now there are players who celebrate this vastness of a stadium and make it their own on the return. Rafael Nadal and Daniil Medvedev, for example. Taylor Fritz, on the other hand: not so much.
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If there is such a thing as discovering these ATP Finals, Fritz's forehand could be cited first and foremost. Anyone who last saw the American in Vienna - obviously exhausted from the exertions of his best season so far - can hardly believe the verve with which Fritz hits the ball with the forehand these days. And where he usually stands: namely at or on, sometimes even in front of the baseline. Also on the return, which he likes to block with his backhand. However, Taylor Fritz does not appreciate the endless expanse of the Pala Alpitour.
Fritz with a bad record against Djokovic
In a group with Rafael Nadal and Casper Ruud, who were also weak recently, it could not be ruled out that the champion from Indian Wells and Tokyo would have a chance of reaching the semi-finals in which he meets Novak Djokovic today. The fact that Fritz would have the upper hand in the decisive group match on Thursday evening against Félix Auger-Aliassime came as a surprise. The main role was played by: Fritz' forehand.
There was a lot of wrist to be seen, also a few mistakes, but generally: pressure, pressure, pressure. Which the still extremely fit looking Auger-Aliassime ultimately had to bow to. As in the first match, Rafael Nadal.
Will that be enough against Novak Djokovic? From Fritz's point of view, the balance sheet is very, very bad. All five previous games have gone to Djokovic, it was only close once: 2021 in the third round of the Australian Open. As is well known, Djokovic was tormented by problems with his abdominal muscles. In Turin, on the other hand, the Serb presented himself fit and hungry, at least until the second set in the match against Daniil Medvedev. What happened afterwards (and then ended in Djokovic winning again) will also have raised some questions for Taylor Fritz. The "general exhaustion" will be blown away at today's meeting.
Gifts for Rune
To get to the point: Fritz has to catch a sidereal day. And hope that Djokovic might let the reins drag a little like in the Paris-Bercy final, which he gave to Holger Rune in an almost charitable way. In any case, Daniil Medvedev could not accept the offer yesterday. And that despite the fact that the Russian had already served the match in the third set.
But Fritz and Djokovic have one thing in common: like his US opponent, the record champion of the finals also keeps the area close to the baseline for his natural habitat. The depth of the room in the Pala Alpitour will remain unused this Saturday, at least in this semi-final.
Here the individual tableau in Turin
turin map