MEMPHIS, Tennessee (AP) — Naungusan ng teenager na si Taylor Fritz ang beteranong si Benjamin Becker ng Germany 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (5) nitong Biyernes (Sabado sa Manila) sa Memphis Open upang tanghaling pinakabatang American na makausad sa ATP semifinal mula noong 1989.
Nakasalba si Fritz, magdiriwang ng ika-18 kaarawan sa Oktumbre 28, sa dalawang oras at 20 minutong laro, para mapatatag ang kampanya sa The Racquet Club.
Para sa kauna-unahang career ATP semifinal, si Fritz ang pinakabatang American netter na nakagawa nito mula nang magwagi si Michael Chang sa Wembley noong 1989 sa edad na 17.
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“It feels incredible,” pahayag ni Fritz. “You know it’s a great milestone. ... I always say this is reassuring to know that I’m doing the right thing and I’m on the right track. But got to just keep doing my own thing and not let all the milestones get in your head or anything like that.”
Lumaro si Fritz na wild card entry bilang No.145 sa world ranking. Makakaharap niya sa semifinal si Ricardas Berankis ng Lithuania, nagwagi kontra No. 3 seed Donald Young 7-6, 6-1.
Magtutuos naman sa hiwalay na semifinal match sina three-time defending champion Kei Nishikori at fourth-seeded Sam Querrey, nagwagi kontra Japanese qualifier Yoshihito Nishioka 6-3, 6-4.
“It’s incredible. I can’t believe it. Just an amazing feeling, especially after the match I just had coming back ... he was serving for the match and to come back and win it in that way and tough it out, I’ll never forget that,” pahayag ni Fritz.
