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The 9th seed Taylor Fritz experienced a short campaign at the Rome Masters. The American fell to a qualifier Yannick Hanfmann 6-4, 6-1 in 71 minutes for his worst result on clay this year. The American lost in the semi-final in Monte Carlo and Munich before squandering his chances in the Madrid Masters fourth round.
Fritz failed to repeat that level against Hanfmann. The German overcame a slow start and took 12 of the final 14 games to seal the deal in style and move into the third round. Yannick dropped 12 points in eight service games and lost serve once from two chances offered to Taylor.
A better-ranked player could not match that pace following a promising start, serving at 45% and dropping over half of the points behind the initial shot. Also, Taylor could not defend any of the five break points offered to Yannick, struggling and ending his campaign on the first obstacle.
Yannick Hanfmann scored an impressive victory over Taylor Fritz in Rome.
The German controlled the pace in the shortest and more advanced exchanges, taming the rival's strokes nicely and delivering his fifth Masters 1000 win.
Taylor made a strong start and broke in the encounter's second game after Yannick's loose forehand. The American cemented the lead with a service winner in the next one and moved 3-0 up in no time. Hanfmann got his name on the scoreboard with a hold at love in game four and pulled the break back in the next one with a lob winner that brought him back to 2-3.
Fritz squandered a break point in game six after the rival's service winner, and Hanfmann clinched it with a beautiful volley winner for 3-3. Taylor netted an easy forehand in the seventh game to experience a break at love and fall 4-3 behind, losing his advantage and struggling to find the rhythm.
Yannick closed the eighth game to rattle off his fifth straight game and served for the opener at 5-4. The German painted a forehand winner in the tenth game to wrap up the first set and gain a massive boost. Hanfmann grabbed a break at 1-1 in the second set and extended the gap with another return game at 3-1 when Fritz placed a forehand long.
Yannick held at love to move 5-1 in front, forcing Taylor to serve to stay in the match in game seven. Fritz lost the ground entirely and lost serve for the third straight time following Hanfmann's backhand down the line winner.