Second-seeded Zverev loses to Fritz at Swiss Indoors

Posted October 22, 2019 7:00 am

The Associated Press

Germany's Alexander Zverev reacts as he plays Taylor Fritz of the United States during their first round match at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, on Tuesday, October 22, 2019. (Georgios Kefalas, Keystone via AP) The Associated Press

BASEL, Switzerland (AP) - Second-seeded Alexander Zverev was eliminated in the first round of the Swiss Indoors on Tuesday, losing 7-6 (7), 6-4 to Taylor Fritz.

Zverev led 4-0 in the first-set tiebreaker and later held a set point before Fritz took his chance to clinch it with an ace.

The 31st-ranked American got the only service break of the match in the third game of the second set and converted his first match point with a two-handed backhand winner.

The loss rules out a possible final for Zverev against top-seeded Roger Federer, who part owns the agency which manages the sixth-ranked German's career.

The defeat also harms Zverev's chances of defending his ATP Finals title next month. He is seventh in the season-long standings to advance to the eight-man event in London.

In Federer's half of the draw, third-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas and fifth-seeded Fabio Fognini both advanced Tuesday.

Tsitsipas beat Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-3, 7-6 (6) and Fognini eased past qualifier Alexei Popyrin 6-2, 6-4.

Federer next plays Wednesday against Radu Albot, after the 49th-ranked Moldovan won 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 against Dusan Lajovic.

In a match of zero break point chances, 37th-ranked Reilly Opelka beat No. 38 Cristian Garrin 7-6 (5), 7-6 (10).

The 22-year-old American had 27 aces in his victory and dropped only one point when landing his first serve.

___

More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/apf-Tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Taylor Fritz of the United States celebrates a point on his way to beating Germany's Alexander Zverev during their first round match at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, on Tuesday, October 22, 2019. (Georgios Kefalas, Keystone via AP) The Associated Press

Australia's Alexei Popyrin serves a ball to Italy's Fabio Fognini during their first round match at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019. (Georgios Kefalas/Keystone via AP) The Associated Press

Article Comments

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.