Taylor Fritz produced yet another stunning comeback as the American teenager as he recovered from the loss of the first set to beat Ricardas Berankis 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
The American had struggled badly in the first set, as the Lithuanian came out of the blocks firing, breaking Fritz three times for a six-two score as Berankis did himself surrender a break to the young American. Fritz lost twenty points on serve in the first set, and Berankis looked well placed to win the match.
Fritz broke in the second as he earned a break point by hitting a passing shot that Berankis found too hot to handle and then defending well, forcing Berankis to miss fractionally up the line with a backhand. Fritz’s overall numbers improved dramatically in the second set, as he dropped just eight points in total, Berankis continued to struggle on second serve, and a drop of his first serve percentage was ultimately his undoing in the second set.
Fritz managed to take the lead in the third when Berankis double-faulted. Berankis was able to retrieve the break, and at four-all the match looked like it could go either way. Berankis then gave Fritz a helping hand, double-faulting yet again on break point to give the young American the advantage. Fritz then served for a place in his first ever ATP Tour final. Berankis however, put up a fight, and forced it back to deuce, saving two match points in the process. He even earned a break back opportunity, but it was Fritz who once again showed the mental strength and character, holding to win the match, and going through to face the winner of Kei Nishikori and Sam Querrey.
He is the youngest American to reach the final of a main tour tournament since Michael Chang. Fritz has now beaten Michael Mmoh, Steve Johnson, Benjamin Becker, and Ricardas Berankis to reach the final.
If Fritz wins the title, he will break into the Top 100 as a teenager.
Fritz has a habit of producing come from behind victories from wins against the likes of Dustin Brown and earlier this week he broke then defeated Benjamin Becker in a tiebreak after the German had served for the match at six-five in the third.
Fritz is three-one in Challenger finals having recorded wins over Jared Donaldson, Dustin Brown, and Dudi Sela. The win over Sela came earlier this year in Happy Valley. His lone defeat in a final came to Swiss Henri Laaksonen last year.
