Revealed! Taylor Fritz’s path to claim his maiden Monte-Carlo Masters Title
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Taylor Fritz
Taylor Fritz has been inconsistent this season on tour. The young American has blown hot and cold at times. He has played some sublime tennis against top players but has also faltered in unexpected positions. With this topsy turvy form, Fritz will be featuring at the upcoming Monte Carlo Masters, as the 24-year-old is looking to prepare for the Roland Garros.
He started the year with a decent outing at the ATP Cup with wins over Felix Auger-Aliassime and Cameron Norrie but he lost out against Alexander Zverev. He carried that form to the Australian Open as he played in a good rhythm and knocked over compatriot Frances Tiafoe and Roberto Bautista Agut. He reached the fourth round of the tournament and made Stefanos Tsitsipas work very hard in a five-setter clash.
Fritz had underwhelming outings in Dallas and Mexico only to come back and win the Indian Wells Masters. He shocked everyone by reaching the finals and then did one better to lift his first ATP 1000 Masters title. On his way to the trophy, he defeated players like Alex De Minaur, Miomir Kecmanovic, Andrey Rublev and eventually defeated Rafael Nadal to clinch the title. If this version of Fritz comes on to play the Monte Carlo Masters then he won’t be a pushover for the top players.
But then right after the Indian Wells, he faltered at the round of 16 in Miami as he went down fighting against Kecmanovic. His performances in the relatively easier ATP Houston were nothing noteworthy as he fell to Cristian Garin in the quarterfinals. So this wavering form has affected his growth as a player and this is something that he needs to improve. He has that talent to be a top player and his current ranking suggests that but now it is time for him to be more consistent.
Taylor Fritz may face Carlos Alcaraz in the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters
The Monte Carlo Masters will be a big tournament for Fritz in the build-up to the Roland Garros. Here, he will be up against players like defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas, World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, Miami Open winner Carlos Alcaraz, Andrey Rublev, Casper Ruud, Alexander Zverev and many more. So the young American will have to bring his best game when competing against the top players in the world.
Unlike Ruud or Alcaraz, Fritz needs to play the first round in Monte Carlo as he is ranked 13th in the world. So the 24-year-old will take on Poland’s Lucas Catarina in the opening round. If he gets through to the first round, he will face either of Jo-Wilfred Tsonga or Marin Cilic. It will be a challenge for the young American against one of the veterans but he should back himself to beat either of them.
His real challenges start from the third round, he will either face compatriot Sebastian Korda, Botic van de Zandschlup or Carlos Alcaraz. The matchup between Alcaraz will be really a tough one for him. The Spaniard is in some great form currently. But if Fritz backs his ability he can play a good match and even beat the 18-year-old.
If Fritz manages to work his way out of the third round, he will then probably face the World No. 1 Novak Djokovic. There are outside chances for Roberto Bautista Agut or even Dan Evans but it will most likely be the Serb. Fritz has shown his quality earlier against top players especially when he defeated Rafael Nadal to clinch the Indian Wells. So a performance like that can help him get past a rusty Novak Djokovic. If the youngster manages to even get past Djokovic he will face either Casper Ruud, Hubert Hurkacz or Cameron Norrie in the semifinals. A potential final for Fritz will be against either Stefanos Tsitsipas, Andrey Rublev or Andrey Rublev.
Carlos Alcaraz’s potential path to the 2022 Monte Carlo Masters title :
First round: Lucas Catarina
Second round: Jo Wilfred Tsonga/Marin Cilic
Third round: Carlos Alcaraz
Quarterfinals: Novak Djokovic/Dan Evans/Roberto Bautista Agut
Semifinals: Casper Ruud/Hubert Hurkacz/Cameron Norrie
Finals: Stefanos Tsitsipas/Alexander Zverev/Andrey Rublev
Also Read: Watch: Novak Djokovic and Stanislas Wawrinka compete in a mini-match ahead of the ATP Monte-Carlo Masters
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Atrayo Bhattacharya
(193 Articles Published)