By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday February 18, 2023
Taylor Fritz edged Mackenzie McDonald to reach his tenth career final on Saturday at Delray Beach.
Photo Source: Matthew Calvis
After dispatching Mackenzie McDonald, 6-3, 7-6(6) on Saturday night in Delray Beach, Taylor Fritz was asked on court if he felt like he had already reached ten ATP finals, he confidently told the interviewer: “I don’t feel like I’ve been in ten, but I guess I tried to forget about the ones I lose.”
The top-ranked American hopes to remember Sunday’s final against Miomir Kecmanovic as he bids for his fifth ATP title.
He has every reason to believe in himself after three solid straight set victories in Delray Beach, and Fritz has felt more comfortable with each passing round.
“I’m playing better and better each match since I have been here,” Fritz said. “I love the moment, I love competing in finals, so I know I’ll play a good game tomorrow.”
Fritz owns a 2-1 edge in his head to head with Kecmanovic, but he lost their last meeting at Miami last year.
Kecmanovic defeated Radu Albot in three sets in Saturday’s first semifinal at Delray Beach, 7-6(8), 3-6, 6-2.
Fritz jumped out to a 5-0 lead over McDonald but the 56th-ranked American pushed back. He closed to 5-3, before Fritz locked up the set, then led by a break in the second, but Fritz took charge and ended up finishing off the match in a very tight tiebreak.
“It got a little closer,” Fritz said on court after the win. “I went down the break in a second and maybe got away from [being on the front foot] a little bit and in the end and just tried to get that back into being aggressive like it was in the beginning.”