Taylor Fritz defeated Frances Tiafoe 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2) in an all-American Japan Open final on Sunday to clinch his third title of the year, according to AFP.
It was a perfect five days for Fritz in Tokyo, who arrived at the tournament just after the end of his seven days of quarantine in Seoul following a positive COVID-19 test.
“(It is) crazy, I don’t even think it’s set in just how fast the last four or five days have been,” Fritz said after becoming the first American to win the Japan Open since Pete Sampras last won it in 1996.
“It’s so crazy, and I couldn’t have written it any better.”
The two 24-year-olds traded breaks in the opening set before the greater consistency of Fritz took him ahead in the tiebreak and he secured it with a cracking forehand.
The second set was equally intense as Fritz’s serve proved impenetrable and Tiafoe bravely defended several break point chances inside Tokyo’s Ariake Coliseum.
In the tiebreak, Fritz raced into a 6-2 lead with relentless power and accuracy before sealing victory when Tiafoe’s forehand went out.
Fritz, assured of breaking into the top 10 after beating Canada’s Denis Shapovalov in the semi-finals, also won titles in Eastbourne and Indian Wells this year.