By Alberto Amalfi | @Tennis_Now | Saturday, March 23, 2024
Qualifier Thiago Seyboth Wild shocked Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-4 to score his fourth Top 20 win and reach the Miami Open third round.
Photo credit: Al Bello/Getty
MIAMI—Rain and some slick lines postponed the start of Taylor Fritz's Miami Open opener.
Thundering his first serve and forehand, Thiago Seyboth Wild sent Fritz to an early exit today.
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Qualifier Seyboth Wild stunned Fritz 6-3, 6-4 to score his fourth Top 20 win and reach the Miami Open third round for the first time.
Exuding more energy and urgency from the start, Seyboth Wild won 23 of 24 first-serve points, out-aced Fritz (8 to 2), repeatedly beat the American in forehand exchanges and saved the only break point he faced in his penultimate service game.
Big stages can bring out the best in the 76th-ranked Seyboth Wild, who shocked Daniil Medvedev in his Roland Garros opener last May and improved his record vs. Top 20 opponents to 4-4 with today's win.
Only in Miami, home to a many South American transplants, could a Brazilian player prompt more crowd support than a U.S. player on home soil.
Throughout this match, a vocal group of Brazilian fans clad in identical yellow t-shirts urged Seyboth Wild on chanting "Thiago! Thiago!"
Seyboth Wild answered the call with a bold and simple game plan: Crack big first and second serves, attack the Fritz forehand and finish points with his own twisting topspin forehand.
The 24-year-old Brazilian cranked a forehand winner down the line earning first-break blood for 5-3.
Seyboth Wild snapped a smash to seal a strong 30-minute opening set.
The Fritz forehand was unsettled at times.
Starting the second set, Fritz overhit a forehand sitter then complained to chair umpire Fergus Murphy suggesting fan hindrance.
“I don’t think they’re doing it purpose, Taylor,” Murphy replied. “I think they’re just excited.”
Sailing a diagonal forehand put Fritz in a break-point bind again.
Moving up quickly to the ball, Seyboth Wild whipped an inside-out forehand to start the second set with a break.
Inspired by some vocal Brazilian fans clad in yellow, Seyboth Wild hammered his second ace and slid a backhand winner down the line backing up the break at love for his fifth straight game and a 2-0 lead.
Repeatedly going after big second serves, Seyboth Wild whipped a 103 mph second-serve ace, extending his lead to 3-1.
That hold prompted a chorus of “Thiago! Thiago!” from Brazilian fans bringing the soccer stadium vibes to the Hard Rock Stadium.
Facing a break point at 4-3, Seyboth Wild caught a break when Fritz floated a forehand long. The Brazilian hung tough, winning one of the longest rallies of the set then slamming an ace out wide for 5-3.
Serving for the match, Seyboth Wild banged a backhand winner down the line converting his second match point to close in one hour, 11 minutes.
Seyboth Wild will play either Briton Jack Draper or Chilean Nicolas Jarry for a spot in the round of 16.
The Brazilians took over Hard Rock Stadium for this match on a day in which some American stars were left red, white and bruised.
Austrailan Christopher O'Connell rocked 17 aces and saved four of five break points edging 21st-seeded American Frances Tiafoe 7-5, 7-6(5).
< O'Connell will face 6'8" American Martin Damm in a big-serving showdown.
In an all-American match on Court 7, Tommy Paul led wild card Damm 6-4, 1-2 when he rolled his left ankle attacking net. Indian Wells semifinalist Paul could not put any weight on the injured ankle and was forced to retire.