"I was slipping a lot" says Taylor Fritz, blames lack of clay as Madrid Open run comes to an end at semi-final stage
ATPSaturday, 04 May 2024 at 23:00
Taylor
Fritz analyzed his loss to Andrey Rublev in the semifinals of the Madrid Open
and stated that the clay density on the central court was different from the
other courts in the tournament. The world No. 13 played on all three stadiums
at Caja Magica and considered the conditions of the main stadium to be slower.
Rublev
took only 72 minutes to reach his fifth final of a Masters 1000 tournament in
his career. Fritz started the match with an early break, but he couldn't break
his opponent's serve again and ended his journey in Madrid being soundly
defeated by the Russian.
Challenges on Center Court: Taylor Fritz discussed court conditions
The
American played his first two rounds against Luciano Darderi and Sebastian Baez
on Court 3, both with easy straight-set victories. In the round of 16, he moved
to the Arantxa Sanchez Stadium, the second in importance, and also secured the
win against Hubert Hurkacz with a score of 7-6, 6-4.
His
subsequent matches were on the Court Manolo Santana in the quarterfinals
against Francisco Cerundolo (6-1, 3-6, 6-3), and two days later, he fell to the
Russian world No. 8 with a score of 4-6, 3-6.
"When
I was playing on I guess Arantxa Sanchez [Vicario] and Stadium 3. I feel like,
for sure, it's faster in there it's bouncing higher in there. Center court's
definitely slower and it was pretty slippery as well," Fritz said.
Fritz achieved his 250th victory at ATP Tour level in the quarterfinals against Cerundolo
"I
wish I would have served a lot better. I've been serving well all week, I
didn't serve well and I just felt very, like I said, I felt like the court was,
I know for a fact that there's not as much clay on Center than all the other
courts," he added.
"I
can literally, when I'm taking little steps I can hear my feet squeaking
because it's hitting like the hard surface underneath the clay... I wanted to take
some pretty, like, aggressive steps to get back into the court I was just
slipping a lot," he added.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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