Last year's ATP Finals runner-up Taylor Fritz made a winning start in Turin. The American faced Lorenzo Musetti in the first round-robin match and scored a 6-3, 6-4 victory in an hour and 42 minutes.
The Italian stepped onto the court two days after losing a marathon Athens finalto Novak Djokovic. He gave everything to restore energy and make a better ATP Finals debut, but it was not to be for him.
Thus, Taylor joined Carlos Alcaraz at the top of their group ahead of their Tuesday meeting. The better-ranked player collected 18 points more and had the upper hand on serve and return.
Taylor played well behind the first and second serve and defended four break points in the only challenged game he experienced. He generated 12 break points and seized two to control the scoreboard.
The American landed 34 winners and 21 unforced errors. The Italian stood on a 23-17 ratio, providing a solid effort but falling in straight sets after trailing from the baseline and at the net.
Fritz had the upper hand in the shortest and most extended exchanges. Interestingly, Lorenzo made a push on the return in the third game of the duel and created those four break points.
Taylor denied them and held to avoid an early setback. The home player experienced another setback in the next game after wasting four game points. Musetti netted a volley on the second break point to fall behind.
He had to dig deep two games later after playing against three break points. The Italian saved them and closed the game to reduce the deficit to 4-2. Fritz held at 15 for 5-2 and created a set point on the return in the next one.
Lorenzo denied it and held to extend the set. However, Taylor held at love at 5-3 with a service winner to wrap up the opener in 48 minutes. The home player struggled in the fourth straight game at the beginning of the second set.
He saved four break points and held. However, Musetti missed game points at 1-1 and sprayed a backhand error to fall behind. The American held at love in the fourth game for 3-1 and landed an ace two games later to mirror that.
Fritz provided his third straight hold at love in game eight with an ace for 5-3. Lorenzo saved a match point on serve in game nine before Taylor held from 0-30 in the next one with a forehand drive-volley winner to seal the deal in style.
