Taylor Fritz beat his friend and US rival Frances Tiafoe in two closely fought sets to win the Japan Open on Sunday, saying he had to play his “absolute best” to win.
Third-seeded Fritz claimed the title 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/2), and will break into the top 10 for the first time on Monday with a new ranking of eight.
The 24-year-old described his victory as “really crazy”, coming immediately after a week of Covid-19 hotel quarantine in Seoul that forced him to withdraw from the Korea Open.
“He’s been on fire recently, and I had to play my absolute best to beat him today,” Fritz said.
