ATP Finals open with a win for Taylor Fritz against a riled Daniil Medvedev

The Nitto ATP Finals in Turin opened with a dramatic showdown as Taylor Fritz took the court against Daniil Medvedev. The 2020 champion was not at his best with the racket as he endured a defeat in straight sets against the American. However, the seasoned Russian staged aggressive antics as he consistently failed to get a hold of the game against Fritz. The win didn't seem challenging for Taylor Fritz to claim, who remained composed and held his own against the triggered Medvedev. The 2024 Nitto ATP Finals is the sixth consecutive appearance of Medvedev at the year-end event. For Fritz, meanwhile, it is the second take of the Californian after he debuted in 2022.

Nitto ATP Finals: Daniil Medvedev stages drama as Taylor Fritz wins the opening clash

Opening the Nitto ATP Finals against Daniil Medvedev, Fritz made a powerful start to his Nitto ATP Finals campaign on Sunday with a commanding 6-4, 6-3 victory. In his second appearance at the prestigious season finale, the American took advantage of Medvedev’s erratic opening set, which included seven double faults. It was an impressive show by Fritz, who became the first American to play in a Grand Slam final after 15 years when he reached the US Open final this year. However, the result at the Inalpi Arena was more of Medvedev's doing than Fritz's brilliance.

Daniil Medvedev, known for his aggressive explosions, showed he could do a lot more than what the fans are already aware of. After double-faulting to lose the first set against Fritz, the world number four smashed his racket in frustration. The racket-shattering act by the Russian earned him a code violation from the chair umpire in the opening set. Unfazed in his antics, Medvedev continued the irate behaviour in the subsequent set when he bizarrely held a new racket by its head while awaiting Fritz’s serve. The 2020 ATP Finals title-winner was docked a penalty point after hurling his racket at a courtside microphone.  Amidst the outbursts of Medvedev, Taylor Fritz managed to claim the game 6-3, 6-4. 

"It's very easy sometimes when someone's doing that, you can relax and think that they're just going to be done and then you kind of drop your level," Fritz said after opening his ATP Finals campaign with a victory. "So I just had to try to tell myself, 'Stay focused, play a really good 5-3 game because he was going to fight for that game. Luckily, I served a great game," he added