Rodger Federer survives scare against teenager Taylor Fritz to reach Stuttgart last eight
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2015/04/22/1462335-31243733-310-310.jpg)
Updated 09/06/2016 at 16:24 GMT
Roger Federer survived a stern examination by American teenager Taylor Fritz in Stuttgart on Thursday to win his first match since withdrawing from the French Open with a back injury.
Switzerland's Roger Federer falls in his round of sixteen match against Taylor Fritz from the USA at the ATP Mercedes Cup tennis tournament.
Image credit: AFP
The Swiss 17-times grand slam champion resumed leading 4-3 in the opening set after rain curtailed play at the Mercedes Cup the previous day and he eventually prevailed 6-4 5-7 6-4.
Fritz, 18, levelled the match when he converted his fourth set point but Federer edged home in the decider to set up a quarter-final against Florian Mayer.
His victory was his 1,071st on the ATP Tour, taking him joint-second on the all-time match wins list with Ivan Lendl.
Jimmy Connors is the overall leader with 1,256 wins.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2016/06/09/1872682-39450633-2560-1440.jpg)
WATCH: World number 65 Fritz stuns Federer by winning second set
"It wasn't easy," Federer told the ATP's website.
"(Fritz) served well and I was a little bit cautious, unsure of how to move and questioning my defence.
"These are the things I will need to iron out."
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2016/06/09/1872709-39451173-2560-1440.jpg)
HIGHLIGHTS: Teenager Fritz takes set off Federer, but Roger goes through
Top seed Federer has been struggling with injuries this season, requiring knee surgery in February and then nursing a back problem throughout the claycourt season.
He was encouraged that he was able to get past Fritz with no injury concerns.
"I can take a lot of confidence out of this match. I need to improve a few things, but I served big and I was able to handle three sets over two days, and find some energy at the end of the match. I know I have an extra gear," he said.
There was also a win on Thursday for Austrian third seed Dominic Thiem who made the semi-finals of the French Open last week, losing to Novak Djokovic. On Thursday he beat Australia's Sam Groth 7-6(3) 7-6(2).
ATP Stuttgart Round Two results
- Juan Martin Del Potro (Argentina) beat John Millman (Australia) 6-4 6-4
- Radek Stepanek (Czech Republic) beat 2-Marin Cilic (Croatia) 7-6(4) 7-5
- 4-Gilles Simon (France) beat Jan-Lennard Struff (Germany) 6-4 4-6 6-2
- Mikhail Youzhny (Russia) beat Sergiy Stakhovsky (Ukraine) 6-3 7-6(1)
- 3-Dominic Thiem (Austria) beat Samuel Groth (Australia) 7-6(3) 7-6(2)
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement