Taylor Fritz is through to the last 16 at the home Miami Open. The top-ranked American faced Denis Shapovalov in the third round and scored a 7-5, 6-3 victory in an hour and 26 minutes. Thus, the American defeated the Canadian for the third time in the previous four encounters.
The 3rd seed claimed 19 points more than his rival. Taylor outplayed Denis behind the first serve and defended three of four break points. Shapovalov offered his rival four break points and lost serve three times to end his run in the third round.
Finished with a FLOURISH 💪
2023 #MiamiOpen quarter-finalist @Taylor_Fritz97 defeats Shapovalov to reach the round of 16. pic.twitter.com/H6uLzenEry
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 24, 2025
Fritz landed 16 winners and 13 unforced errors. Denis stood on an 18-29 ratio, spraying too many errors from his forehand. They hit the same number of service winners, and the Canadian played a bit better at the net.
However, the American ruled the baseline and forged a 37-19 buffer that carried him home. Taylor made a strong start and clinched a break in the second game of the duel. He held for 3-0 and defended a break point in game five with a forehand crosscourt winner.
Taylor Fritz, Miami Open 2025© Stream screenshot
The home player closed the seventh game at 15 to remain in front and served for the opener at 5-3. Taylor sprayed a backhand error and faced two break points. Shapovalov wasted them before converting the third after the rival’s backhand error, reducing the gap and extending the battle.
Denis held from 0-30 in the tenth game, and Taylor produced a hold at 30 in the next one for a 6-5 lead. A left-hander struggled on serve at 5-6, hitting a double fault and offering the home player three set points.
Denis Shapovalov & Taylor Fritz, Miami Open 2025© Stream screenshot
Shapovalov sprayed an error at the net on the first, falling 7-5 behind after 55 minutes. Fritz gained a boost and provided five comfortable holds in set number two. He drew Denis’ mistake in the first game for a hold at love and stepped in on the return in the next one.
The Canadian faced a break point after a double fault and lost serve after a loose backhand to find himself a set and a break behind. The American fell in the third game but avoided an injury. He landed a service winner and held for 3-0.
Taylor Fritz, Miami Open 2025© Stream screenshot
The 3rd seed held at love in the fifth game with a service winner and mirrored that two games later for a 5-2 advantage. Shapovalov served to stay in the match in game eight and closed it at love with a powerful serve.
Taylor served for the win at 5-3 and provided his third hold at love in a row, firing a forehand crosscourt winner for a place in the fourth round.
Tennis World USA