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Taylor Fritz had only one win in Caja Magica before last week. The top-ranked American has made significant progress at the clay-court Masters 1000 event, scoring two triumphs and advancing into the last 16. Taylor defeated Cristian Garin 6-1, 7-6 in an hour and 31 minutes, producing a masterclass behind the initial shot and prevailing in the second set's closing stages to remain on the title course.
Fritz landed 22 service winners and hit 26 direct points and ten unforced errors. Garin sprayed over 30 unforced errors, staying competitive in the second set but failing to force a decider. The American dropped eight points behind the initial shot and lost serve once.
He created 12 break opportunities and broke the Chilean three times to emerge at the top. Taylor held at love in the encounter's first game and earned two break chances in the next one. Garin netted a forehand on the first to experience an early setback and fall 2-0 behind.
Taylor Fritz ousted Cristian Garin in straight sets in Madrid.
Fritz produced another hold at love with a booming serve in game three and earned three break points a few minutes later. Cristian netted a forehand on the second, dropping 16 of the opening 18 points and falling 4-0 behind after 12 minutes.
Firing from all cylinders, Taylor held at 15 in game five to increase the advantage and force the rival to serve to stay in the set in no time. The Chilean held with a service winner in game six to avoid a bagel. The American wrapped up an impressive set with a hold at love at 5-1, dropping one point behind the initial shot and breaking the rival two times.
Garin faced two break points in the second set's third game after a loose forehand. He saved both and held to remain on the positive side. Both players served well in the next five games to lock the result at 4-4, with the lower-ranked player doing much better than in the opener.
Cristian faced an ultimate challenge in the ninth game, defending four break points before falling on the fifth to find himself 5-4 down after 15 minutes. Taylor served for the victory in game ten and hit a forced error to face a break point, the first of the match.
He hit a double fault to get broken and bring the opponent back to 5-5. The 11th game saw more drama on Garin's serve, and he fended off two break points and held after five deuces for 6-5. The set went into a tie break, and Fritz painted a forehand down the line winner in the eighth point to open a 5-3 advantage.
Cristian netted a backhand to experience another mini-break and offer Taylor three match points. Fritz seized the second with a booming serve to seal the deal and book a place in the last 16.