Claylor returns: Taylor Fritz surges through at Madrid Open, Alexander Zverev and Jakub Mensik also make superb starts
ATP
Some top names are already through to the third round at the Madrid Open including Taylor Fritz, Alexander Zverev and Jakub Mensik.
The former of course hasn't been seen for a little while after withdrawing from Monte-Carlo due to an abdomen injury which has blighted him for most of the season. He sealed a 6-1, 6-4 win over Christopher O'Connell.
Bringing back 'Claylor' from last year the nickname given to the American for his excellence on the surface. He moved superbly and played his first clay court match since the Paris Olympics last year in superb fashion.
“It feels great to come back and play a really solid match,” said Fritz as per ATP. “I didn’t want to jinx it before the match, but I was telling my coach that I was really impressed with how my level has been in practice the last couple of days.
“The first ball I hit since the match I lost in Miami was the day before I flew here, so I had three weeks of nothing, then five days of tennis. I’m super happy I can come out and produce that level on the little bit of prep I had.”
He has a busy schedule too with Rome and Geneva before he heads to Roland Garros as he looks to put recent injury issues behind him firmly. He will now face Benjamin Bonzi who took down Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 7-5. He reached the semi-finals last year before falling to Andrey Rublev and Fritz will look for the same this fortnight.
Jakub Mensik has also claimed his first win since triumphing in Miami. He saw off American qualifier Ethan Quinn 7-6(4), 6-1. The 19-year-old was exquisite slamming in 14 aces and he won 75% of first serve points. He could now face recent Munich finalist Ben Shelton in a popcorn clash in the next round.
Beaten in that Munich final by Alexander Zverev. 'Sascha' saw off Roberto Bautista Agut. He won through quite comfortably 6-2, 6-2 and he showed no signs of deviating in his momentum claiming it with relative ease.
He now sits at 24-5 in Madrid and has won six straight matches. With no Alcaraz this week, he will be favourite to lift the title showing good recent form and being top seed.
Match Statistics Fritz vs. O'Connell
| Fritz | VS | O'Connell |
|---|---|---|
| Service | ||
| 5 | Aces | 2 |
| 0 | Double Faults | 2 |
| 57% (31/54) | 1st Service Percentage | 46% (23/50) |
| 87% (27/31) | 1st Service Points Won | 70% (16/23) |
| 39% (9/23) | 2nd Service Points Won | 37% (10/27) |
| 75% (3/4) | Break Points Saved | 50% (4/8) |
| 89% (8/9) | Service Games | 50% (4/8) |
| Return | ||
| 30% (7/23) | 1st Return Points Won | 13% (4/31) |
| 63% (17/27) | 2nd Return Points Won | 61% (14/23) |
| - | Break Points Saved | - |
| Other | ||
| 1h 16m | Match Duration | 1h 16m |
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