“Winning this first match is massive for my hopes”: Taylor Fritz targets redemption after last year’s near miss in Turin

Taylor Fritz made a statement in Turin as he began his ATP Finals campaign with a straight-sets win over Lorenzo Musetti, 6–3, 6–4, in the opening Round Robin clash of the Jimmy Connors Group. The American, currently ranked World No. 5, entered the tournament under pressure from his closest rivals in the ATP Ranking, but looked composed and sharp throughout a match that rarely slipped from his control.

The 28-year-old was clinical on serve and aggressive on return, neutralising Musetti’s artistry with his own brand of heavy baseline tennis. For Fritz, it was also a personal breakthrough — after losing his previous three encounters with the Italian, he finally found the rhythm and conditions to make his plan work. The fast indoor court seemed tailor-made for his power-driven style.

After the match, Fritz explained that it wasn’t so much about strategy as it was about execution and adapting to the surface. “Oh, I don’t know if it was really strategic,” he said in an interview with Tennis Channel. “I think it’s more about the things I want to do against him that work better on a fast court. On a slower court, those things are much tougher to do.”

He reflected on their previous encounter at Wimbledon, suggesting that even grass had favoured the Italian’s low, floating style. “Obviously, he did get me that one time at Wimbledon, but even with the grass, I felt like that almost helped him too. The ball was dying, and I always had to lift it — I couldn’t really put it away,” Fritz explained. “Here, the court’s fast, so when he chipped, I didn’t feel like I had to redline just to hurt him. I could stay aggressive and still rush him.”

Fritz’s composure was tested late in the match when a few loose errors put him in a tricky spot in the last game, but he relied on his biggest weapon — his serve — to get him out of trouble. “I wouldn’t say I was that cool and collected, to be honest,” he admitted with a smile. “I missed two balls that I really shouldn’t have missed to go down love-30, so I kind of told myself, ‘Wow, I’m choking it from the back right now.’ Luckily, I hit four good serves.”

That moment encapsulated Fritz’s maturity as a competitor. Even when nerves crept in, he found clarity and trusted his fundamentals — a recurring theme in his strong 2025 campaign. This season, the Californian has posted over fifty match wins and claimed two titles, already surpassing five million dollars in prize money. The ATP Finals now present a golden chance to cap off his season in style.

Twelve months ago, Fritz reached the final in Turin before falling to World No. 1 Jannik Sinner. This time, he returns determined to go one better. “I’ve played well here in the past, so I’m looking to have another good result,” he said. “It’s one of those places where you just feel comfortable and expect solid performances. Winning this first match is massive for my hopes of getting out of the group — that’s the main goal right now.”

The victory over Musetti could prove crucial in the group standings, where each win adds valuable points. Fritz will next face Carlos Alcaraz, who defeated Alex de Minaur in his debut in a flawless performance that left him as the group leader.

It will be a daunting challenge given the Spaniard’s dominant head-to-head record of 5-1. However, Fritz can take confidence from their recent encounter, where he earned a rare win at the Laver Cup, marking one of the only two losses Alcaraz has sustained since returning to hardcourts. Nevertheless, the Spaniard already took his revenge in the final of the Tokyo Open, with a convincing victory by 6-4, 6-4.