No 3 seed Fritz overcomes Isner in three sets at Acapulco 500

Taylor Fritz defeated fellow American John Isner in three sets on Monday in Acapulco. Fritz is hoping to build momentum in advance of his Indian Wells title defense.

Taylor Fritz, Delray Beach 2023 | © Icon SMI / Panoramic

Tennis Majors

February 28, 2023

Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC •Third round • completed

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T. FritzvsJ. Isner

No 3 seed Taylor Fritz edged out John Isner 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the second round of the Mexican Open at the Princess Mundo Imperial in Acapulco on Monday night.

Top shelf, Taylor 🔥

In his first match as a Top-5 player, @Taylor_Fritz97 rallies back to defeat John Isner 3-6 6-3 6-4. #AMT2023 pic.twitter.com/ptVqoZ4Nh6
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 28, 2023

Fritz’s first match as a top-five player certainly wasn’t easy, but he managed to advanced through this all-American matchup after one hour and 53 minutes. The 25-year-old not only had to deal with Isner’s huge serve, but he also seemed to struggle with an apparent knee injury in the early stages of the match.

“It was really strange,” Fritz said afterward.” It’s something that I’ve dealt with when I was 18. Typically I only feel it when I’m getting off a flight or I haven’t played in a few days and I’m stiff. So I don’t know why I felt it like that. I haven’t felt it in matches in a long time. But once I started feeling better I started to play well…. I thought I played really well in the third.

“I’m extremely happy. When the draw comes out, (Isner) is not what you want to see in the first round. It’s a 50/50 match; it can go either way. I was lucky to get through.”

Fritz, ranked No 5, will play the winner of the match between Canadian Denis Shapovalov and Serb Miomir Kecmanovic next.

Acapulco ATP500, other first-round matchups and results: