Taylor Fritz: No. 1 seed knocked out of Easbourne by Mackenzie McDonald in straight sets
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ByEurosport
Updated 28/06/2023 at 17:03 GMT
Taylor Fritz is out at Eastbourne in the second round after a straight-sets defeat to compatriot Mackenzie McDonald. It was the first time Fritz has lost an opening round match since the US Open last year. Fritz has not got beyond the second round in the three grass tournaments he has played in this year. McDonald will play Sweden's Mikael Ymer in the next round.
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No. 1 seed Taylor Fritz has been knocked out of the Eastbourne International by Mackenzie McDonald 7-6(3) 7-6(8).
Fritz, who had a bye to play in the second round, was unable to play his best tennis against his compatriot as McDonald went on to win a tight contest in two hours and 17 minutes.
"A really big win for me," McDonald said after the match.
"Taylor is a close friend. It's always tough playing one of your close friends.
"It was a battle out there. I'm happy with how I competed and I thought I put on a good show today so it was really fun."
The world No. 64 will play Mikael Ymer in the next round after he beat Great Britain's Liam Broady 6-2 6-4.
Fritz looked to be in complete control of the first set after surging into a 4-1 lead, but McDonald came fighting back and levelled the scores when Fritz was serving for the set.
The Americans then fought to a tie-break and it was then McDonald took a lead for the first time in the match.
He raced into a 5-1 lead before going on to seal the opener with an unreturnable serve. Fritz did not allow McDonald to let the momentum swing in his favour as the No. 1 seed went a break up in the opening game thanks to a mishit forehand from his opponent.
McDonald squandered five break points in the set. But at 4-3, McDonald was able to break back to level the score. Fritz tried his best to restore his break advantage, but instead he had to fend off two match points from McDonald before he forced the tie-break.
Fritz was unable to convert two set points while McDonald failed to finish off his third match point. But on the fourth time of asking, McDonald wrapped the match up after an unforced error from Fritz.
There was also an upset at the Mallorca Championshps as defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas lost in his first match to Yannick Hanfmann.
Tsitsipas lost 6-4 3-6 6-2 to world No. 48 Hanfmann.
Tsitsipas has won just one grass match ahead of Wimbledon, which starts on July 3.
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