Taylor Fritz was not at the best on the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships on Friday, but he found a way to go to Nuno Borges in straight sets and reach his 10th quarter final of the season.
The American gathered from a break in both sets and saved 29 winners to 25 non-forced errors on their way to achieving a tight 7-5, 7-6 (4) victory in one hour and 54 minutes in Tokyo.
“I think it was sometimes very difficult for myself,” said Fritz. “I came out of the first game and was broken. The court where I was warmed up was super fast to Center Court, and I didn’t make a first serve in the first game and then caught every ball super early. I did very well to break back. It is not too often a break in a break and then went back to the second set.”
Fritz in shape! ?@Taylor_Fritz97 Borges 7-5 7-6 to continue to a 65th career quarterfinals @japanopennisnisnisnis | #kinoshitajotennispic.twitter.com/mkky7m4okw
– ATP Tour (@atptour) September 26, 2025
Since the start of the Grass Swing has won 30 victories since the start of the Grass Swing, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, and has added another 100 points to his count this week in Tokyo, which his chances of returning to the Nitto ATP finals in November.
The 27-year-old is sixth in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin at 3,565 points. He is 860 points for the 10th placed Felix Auger-Aliassime, who is effectively the first player outside the top-8-nee, with the ninth placed Jack Draper excluded for the rest of the year due to injury.
Fritz, who reached the title match in Turin last season, took the crown in Tokyo in 2022. Aim at winning his third title at touring level of the year, will meet the second seed Sebastian Korda in the quarterfinals.
Korda sent the Japanese Wildcard Sho Shimabukuro 6-1, 6-4 to reach its fourth quarterfinals of the year. The 25-year-old Trails Fritz 1-2 in the Lexus ATP Head2head series of the couple. In other promotion on Friday during the ATP 500 Hard-Court event, the Australian qualifying match Aleksandar Vukic Germany’s Daniel Altmaier defeated 6-4, 6-2.
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