World No. 4 Taylor Fritz commented on his defeat to Jakub Mensik in the Miami Masters semi-final with a score of 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-7(4).
Fritz admitted that the defeat is painful and emphasized that he should have won at least one of the tie-breaks and played at a higher level.
He noted that he usually wins when he plays well, and losing in two tie-breaks is frustrating, especially considering that he did not lose a single service game. Fritz also expressed dissatisfaction that he did not have a single break point until the third set.
Speaking about Mensik, Fritz praised his progress since their last meeting at the US Open when Mensik was 18 years old. Fritz noted Mensik`s improved serve, saying that this time Mensik`s serve was particularly effective, making it difficult for Fritz to return.
Answering a question about the favorite in the final between Mensik and Novak Djokovic, Fritz stated that he always considers Djokovic the favorite, despite possible personal frustration from past defeats by Djokovic. He suggested that playing during the day might give Mensik an advantage due to his serve, but emphasized that much will depend on the quality of Djokovic`s return.
Rupert Hartwell