Fritz outlasts red-hot Merida to reach Cincinnati last 16

American Taylor Fritz, the No 6 seed, beat Spaniard Daniel Merida 6-3, 6-4 to reach the last 16 of the Cincinnati Open on Tuesday evening, in a match briefly interrupted when a fan reported feeling unwell.

Fritz will next face Australian qualifier Christopher O’Connell.

It is Fritz’s second Masters 1000 last-16 of the season, after Miami, and his fourth trip to the Cincinnati last 16 in the last five years. The win also took his season tally to 30, making him the fourth American man this year to reach that mark, after Tommy Paul, Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe.

Merida had arrived in red-hot form, fresh off his first ATP Tour title in Umag, and had already accounted for Belgian Zizou Bergs, the No 30 seed, and Croatian wildcard Marin Cilic to reach this stage. But Fritz, the higher-ranked and far more experienced man, handled his game well throughout, denying the Spaniard what would have been his first career win over a top-10 opponent.

Play was halted for several minutes in the second set, with Merida serving to stay in it at 3-5, 15-15, after a spectator reported feeling unwell; the match resumed shortly after.

The win extends Fritz’s winning streak on American soil to seven matches since he claimed the Washington title earlier this month, with a second home trophy before the US Open squarely in his sights.

Cincinnati Masters 1000 3rd Round

• A. Zverev (1) vs T. Atmane: 7-6, 7-6
• T. Paul (18) vs A/ Vallejo: 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
• R. Jodar (12) vs A. Tabilo (22): 6-2, 6-1
• F. Cobolli (7) vs A. Blockx (28): 7-5, 4-6, 7-5
• T. Tirante vs M. Arnaldi (31): 7-6, 7-6
• Mensik (14) vs R. Hijikata: 6-3, 6-4
• A. Fils (21) vs J. Lehecka (9): 6-1, 6-7, 6-3
• A. de Minaur (5) vs A. Fery (32): 7-5, 7-6
• T. Fritz (6) vs D. Merida: 6-1, 6-7, 6-3
• C. O’Connell d. Fonseca (23): WO
• N. Borges d. A. Rublev (13): 6-3, 6-4
• B. Nakashima (27) vs D. Medvedev (4)
• J. Faria vs A. Walton
• L. Musetti (10) d. M. Zheng: 6-1, 6-3
• L. Tien (16) vs F. Tiafoe (17)
• J. Cerundolo vs F. Auger-Aliassime (2)