Federer vs Fritz Live Tennis 2019
Two-time defending champion Roger Federer looks to be getting on a roll in Melbourne once again as he aims for what would be a record-breaking seventh Australian Open title. The next man with the less than enviable task of trying to stop him in his tracks is the Californian Taylor Fritz, who has already equaled his best ever run at a slam by making the third round. But will it be the Swiss star or the American young gun who takes their place in the second week?
This will be the second meeting between Federer and Fritz. Their first came in 2016 on the grasscourts of the Stuttgart Open in the second round. Federer was then working his way back into contention after knee surgery whilst Fritz was an unheralded teenager. But despite neither man being at the peak of their powers, or perhaps because neither man was at the peak of their powers, it proved to be an entertaining three-set battle which Federer just edged 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.
Federer, who arrived in Melbourne fresh from successfully defending the Hopman Cup, began his Australian Open campaign against Denis Istomin. The Uzbek caused a famous upset by beating Novak Djokovic in the second round at Melbourne Park in 2017, but there was to be no repeat giant-killing as Federer comfortably dispatched his man 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. He was given a more searching examination by Britain’s Dan Evans but found his best tennis when he needed it to win 7-6, 7-6, 6-3.
Fritz had the difficult first-round draw of Cameron Norrie, who had beaten him less than a week earlier en route to the Auckland Open final. But Fritz was able to avenge that defeat, besting a weary-looking Norrie in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6, 6-2. His task got no easier against the great French showman Gael Monfils, seeded 30th. But for all Monfils’ flair, it was Fritz who proved to have the greater substance as he toughed out an impressive 6-3, 6-7, 7-6, 7-6 win to reach the third round of the Australian Open for the first time.
Federer will look to dictate proceedings in this match by playing aggressive first-strike tennis. The key to him doing so successfully will be maintaining a high first serve percentage and using his forehand effectively. Thus far he has been having more success with the former than the latter. Against Evans, he made 63% of his first serves and won 84% of the points behind it. But he also made a number of poor forehand errors, which let Evans off the hook more than once.
The Briton was ultimately unable to punish him, but as the tournament progresses and the quality of opposition rises, Federer will be able to afford such lapses less and less. Fritz, for his part, possesses arguably the most complete game of the rising group of young American men. He can hurt opponents with both his forehand and backhand, although neither are standout weapons. He is also an effective server and has struck an impressive 29 aces so far, four more than Federer.
Federer looked slightly short of intensity in his first two matches. But neither Istomin nor Evans were ever able to gain a lead over Federer and put him under real pressure. Fritz should pose a sterner test, with his clean and powerful hitting. But there is not much in the American’s game that Federer will fear unduly. He will need to raise his level to continue to progress, but he should be able to do just that. Expect the third seed to advance to the second week a winner in four.
This will be the second meeting between Federer and Fritz. Their first came in 2016 on the grasscourts of the Stuttgart Open in the second round. Federer was then working his way back into contention after knee surgery whilst Fritz was an unheralded teenager. But despite neither man being at the peak of their powers, or perhaps because neither man was at the peak of their powers, it proved to be an entertaining three-set battle which Federer just edged 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.
Federer, who arrived in Melbourne fresh from successfully defending the Hopman Cup, began his Australian Open campaign against Denis Istomin. The Uzbek caused a famous upset by beating Novak Djokovic in the second round at Melbourne Park in 2017, but there was to be no repeat giant-killing as Federer comfortably dispatched his man 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. He was given a more searching examination by Britain’s Dan Evans but found his best tennis when he needed it to win 7-6, 7-6, 6-3.
Fritz had the difficult first-round draw of Cameron Norrie, who had beaten him less than a week earlier en route to the Auckland Open final. But Fritz was able to avenge that defeat, besting a weary-looking Norrie in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6, 6-2. His task got no easier against the great French showman Gael Monfils, seeded 30th. But for all Monfils’ flair, it was Fritz who proved to have the greater substance as he toughed out an impressive 6-3, 6-7, 7-6, 7-6 win to reach the third round of the Australian Open for the first time.
Federer will look to dictate proceedings in this match by playing aggressive first-strike tennis. The key to him doing so successfully will be maintaining a high first serve percentage and using his forehand effectively. Thus far he has been having more success with the former than the latter. Against Evans, he made 63% of his first serves and won 84% of the points behind it. But he also made a number of poor forehand errors, which let Evans off the hook more than once.
The Briton was ultimately unable to punish him, but as the tournament progresses and the quality of opposition rises, Federer will be able to afford such lapses less and less. Fritz, for his part, possesses arguably the most complete game of the rising group of young American men. He can hurt opponents with both his forehand and backhand, although neither are standout weapons. He is also an effective server and has struck an impressive 29 aces so far, four more than Federer.
Federer looked slightly short of intensity in his first two matches. But neither Istomin nor Evans were ever able to gain a lead over Federer and put him under real pressure. Fritz should pose a sterner test, with his clean and powerful hitting. But there is not much in the American’s game that Federer will fear unduly. He will need to raise his level to continue to progress, but he should be able to do just that. Expect the third seed to advance to the second week a winner in four.
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