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Taylor Fritz vs Arthur Fils: ATP Tokyo – First round
The highest-ranked American player Taylor Fritz will take on Arthur Fils in the opening round of the ATP Tokyo.
Taylor Fritz Profile
Taylor Fritz is currently seventh in the ATP rankings, two spots lower than his career high. The American is 45-18 for the season and 18-8 on hard surface.
He is coming off a 6-2, 7-5 loss to Carlos Alcaraz in the Laver Cup after beating Alexander Zverev in the same competition.
The week before, Fritz made it to his first ever Grand Slam final but lost to Jannik Sinner at the US Open, 6-3, 6-4, 7-5.
Fritz won the titles in Eastbourne and Delray Beach this season.
In 2022, he won the ATP Tokyo defeating Frances Tiafoe in the final.
Arthur Fils Profile
Arthur Fils is 24th in the ATP rankings, four spots lower than his career high. The Frenchman is 31-23 for the season and 10-8 on hard surface.
Fils is coming off a 6-7, 7-5, 6-4 win over Jiri Lehecka in the Davis Cup.
At the US Open, he lost in the second round to Gabriel Diallo.
Fils won the title in Hamburg this season defeating Alexander Zverev in the final 6-3, 3-6, 7-6.
This is his first appearance at the ATP Tokyo.
Head-to-Head
This will be the first match between Taylor Fritz and Arthur Fils.
Prediction and Conclusion
Taylor Fritz has had an amazing season, and he came only one step away from winning his first major. His ambitions are sky high going into the Asia tour, and he will play his first match against a young and promising player. Arthur Fils has the quality to be among the top 25 players in the tour but still lacks consistency. The Frenchman prefers to play on clay, and playing his first match in Tokyo against Fritz, who has won the title, is too big of a challenge. Fritz will have full control of this match and win in straight sets.