Taylor Fritz will break into the ATP’s top 100 for the first time in his career after reaching the quarterfinals at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel. The Californian man will become the youngest player within the men’s top 100 players.
Fritz Will Be The Youngest Player In The Top 100 Come Monday
When the latest ATP tour rankings are out early next week, the name Taylor Fritz will feature in the top 100 for the very first time after another deep run in a tournament. The 18 year-old recently became the fastest American to ever reach an ATP final, before losing in the Memphis final to Kei Nishikori. Fritz has really built on this success and finds himself in the last eight in Acapulco, where he still faces a tough road to success.
His brilliant start to 2016 has had its rewards, as he had secured a career-high ranking of 102 before his breakthrough in Mexico this week. He’s currently 80 in the live rankings, but can move up to 39 if he surprisingly wins the event which has seen the top two seeds, David Ferrer and Nishikori, exit in the second round.
Fritz had a strong junior career, including lifting the 2015 US Open junior’s title by beating Tommy Paul in three sets. This potential led to him winning three ATP challenger events in the past six months with his most recent at the City of Onkaparinga, where he defeated Dudi Sela in straight sets during the first week of the year. From there he has really started to kick on and has broken into the top tier of the professional game after two deep runs in first Memphis, and now Acapulco.
Still In Contention To Win Acapulco
His surprise run in Acapulco is still to be completed, as a quarterfinal with fellow American Sam Querrey looms later today. He qualified through to the main draw by winning consecutive straight set matches against Manuel Sanchez and Adrian Menendez-Maceiras. He then found himself facing eight-seeded Jeremy Chardy, but brushed aside the Frenchman 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. He completed his run to the quarterfinals by comfortably seeing-off tour veteran Victor Estrella Burgos 6-1, 6-3.
If he is to get past the big-serving Querrey, then a big test would be ensured against either Grigor Dimitrov or Dominic Thiem. Only Bernard Tomic remains a seed in the top half of the draw, with the Australian looking likely to progress to the final.
Heading To Indian Wells
As a reward for his impressive early season form, Fritz has been awarded a wildcard into the Indian Wells Masters 1000 event, which starts in early March. This will be his first appearance in a main draw of a Masters 1000 event with his only experience being in the qualifiers last year.
