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Taylor Fritz is into the Washington final for the first time.
By ATP Staff
It is going to take a lot to stop Taylor Fritz this week at the Mubadala DC Open.
The 28-year-old, who saved a match point in the quarter-finals, survived again in the American capital on Saturday, when he outlasted countryman Brandon Nakashima 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in the last four. With the victory, the home hope advanced to his first final in Washington and fourth this season after Dallas, Stuttgart and Halle.
Fritz, who appeared to tweak his left knee in the third set of his quarter-final match against Alex Michelsen, showed no signs of trouble against Nakashima Saturday. After dropping the second set, the 28-year-old recovered to earn a decisive break in the second game of the third set and eventually motored to victory in one hour and 46 minutes.
"Grabbing that break in the third set [made the difference]," Fritz said. "It was really a narrow margin the whole time. Not a lot of chances either way. First set I took my chance, in the second set he did. I played a really good break point in the third set, and I dug very deep to just keep holding."
The American remained rock-solid on serve for the majority of the clash, firing 13 aces and winning 80 per cent of his first-serve points (36/45), according to Infosys ATP Stats. With the victory, Fritz improved to 4-1 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series against Nakashima, whom he also defeated earlier this year in Dallas. The American is into his 23rd tour-level final, seeking his 11th title and first of the season.
Third-seeded Fritz eased past Zizou Bergs and Kamil Majchrzak in his first two matches without dropping a set and then outlasted fellow American Michelsen in the quarter-finals. Standing between the 28-year-old and the title on Sunday will be #NextGenATP star Rafael Jodar, who defeated Alejandro Tabilo 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-4.
Nakashima was seeking his first ATP 500 final and fifth overall. The American earlier this year reached the final at the ATP 250 event in Brisbane, where he fell to ATP No. 1 Club member Daniil Medvedev.
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