Taylor Fritz on Tuesday opened his account at the ATP Tokyo tournament with a win which helps his cause for next season’s eight-man finals in Turin.
The American top seed advanced past Brit Cam Norrie 6-4, 6-3 to stay a solid ninth in the sprint to Turin.
Fritz, who is defending the title in the Japanese capital sent down 13 aces in a victory lasting for well under 90 minute, nudging his career record against Norrie to 7-6.
“It was really close to losing the first set. I was thinking it was going to be a three-setter,” Fritz said.
“I was lucky to get the break back in the first and then I felt my level picked up and I started playing a lot more smoothly.”
Fritz stands just 145 points behind Holger Rune in the race to the year-ender, the event where he reached the semi-finals a year ago.
Australian Alex de Minaur also advanced in his first match, defeating another Briton in Jack Draper, who lost 4-6, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (1) after three hours.
No. 13 De Minaur came from a set and a break down to take victory over the qualifier, breaking the inexperienced youngster as Draper was serving for victory.
“Whenever someone is struggling at the end it makes it much harder to finish off,” De Minaur said.
“You can’t focus on what you want to, you just try to make him play as many balls as possible..
“This match was won on attitude and fitness. I’m happy to get the win and still be alive.”
