Fritz off a winning start in ATP Finals following Medvedev meltdown

American Taylor Fritz won his opening match in the ATP Finals group stage on Sunday, defeating Daniil Medvedev 6-4 6-3 after the Russian lost his cool and risked being defaulted due to his bizarre antics.

Medvedev, the ATP Finals champion in 2020 and runner-up the following year, lost his cool after a succession of double faults in the first set, and Fritz defeated the Russian for the first time in his career.

Fritz's victory was his 50th in 2024 and his eighth top-10 win of the season.

"I definitely felt like at 5-3 (in the second set) he was going to reset and try as hard as he could to break me and I just had to kind of tell myself, 'He's not going to just be done with the match'," Fritz said.

The first set went by without a single break point until the penultimate game, with Fritz particularly strong on his first serve and Medvedev struggling with his second serve.

But, with Fritz up 5-4, Medvedev won a long rally with a stunning drop shot before imploding and serving three double faults, handing the set to his American opponent.

Medvedev was so furious that he smashed his racket to the ground as he concluded the set with seven double faults.

The Russian quickly lost his calm in the second set and began to unravel, breaking a microphone with his racket and receiving a point penalty.

Medvedev continued to push his luck, testing the chair umpire's tolerance by repeatedly throwing and dropping his racket. He also received a Fritz serve while holding the racket by the head as the Turin crowd began to whistle and jeer.

"I get angry, frustrated. This time completely with myself, not with anyone. Just with myself," Medvedev told reporters.

"I was like, 'Whatever, I lost the match. I don't care'. I mean, you have to finish the match. You cannot withdraw, no? I just finished the match."

Fritz finally put Medvedev out of his misery by serving to love in the final game.

"I really want to make it out of the group stage. Let's say I'm putting more expectation on myself to do better, I think I'm just a better player," Fritz added.

Jannik Sinner, the world number one, will face Alex de Minaur later on Sunday in the day's other group match.

SportsLigue