ROGER FEDERER FIGHTS PAST TEEN TALENT “FRITZY” TAYLOR FRITZ, & INTO STUTTGART TENNIS 2016 QUARTERFINALS AGAINST MAYER

Written by: Staff on 9th June 2016

ROGER FEDERER FIGHTS PAST TEEN TALENT "FRITZY" TAYLOR FRITZ, & INTO STUTTGART TENNIS 2016 QUARTERFINALS AGAINST MAYER

epa05352987 Roger Federer from Switzerland in action against Taylor Fritz of the US during their second round match at the ATP tennis tournament inÂ Stuttgart, Germany, 09 June 2016. EPA/Marijan Murat |

By Ricky Dimon

Roger Federer is back in the win column. Playing for the first time since the Rome Masters this spring, Federer survived an impressive performance by Taylor Fritz 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 on Thursday afternoon. A rain-delayed match lasted two days and one hour and 40 minutes in total.

The former world No. 1 led by a break in the first set before the heavens opened up and forced the match from Wednesday to Thursday. Federer finished off that set, but Fritz battled back by breaking serve at 6-5 in the second.

Taylor Fritz from the US in action against Roger Federer from Switzerland during their second round match at the ATP tennis tournament inÂ Stuttgart, Germany, 09 June 2016. EPA/Marijan Murat

Credit the 18-year-old American for also making the decider competitive. In fact, it came down to nothing more than break-point conversions. Federer capitalized on his only opportunity, while Fritz could not get the job done on any of his two chances. A service hold for 5-4 finished the proceedings for the world No. 3, who recorded eight aces to Fritz’s nine.

“It wasn’t easy,” Federer assured. “I thought Fritz had some good moments there. He gained control of the baseline; he had a little bit of an upper-hand at times. He served well and I was a little bit cautious, unsure of how to move and questioning my defense. These are the things I will need to iron out.

“I can take a lot of confidence out of this match. I need to improve a few things, but I served big and I was able to handle three sets over two days and find some energy at the end of the match. I know I have an extra gear. My next goal is to stretch leads–once I get a lead, I need to know that I can protect it and then take the next step.”

“It’s always disappointing to take a loss, when you’ve come close and you’ve definitely had chances in the match,” Fritz commented. “I played great and if you’d told me before that I would have taken a set off Federer, I would have been happy.”

Roger Federer from Switzerland in action against Taylor Fritz of the US during their second round match at the ATP tennis tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, 09 June 2016. EPA/Marijan Murat

Next up for the 17-time Grand Slam champion on Friday is Floridan Mayer, who may also be happy just to take one set. After all, the German is 0-6 lifetime against Federer and 1-13 in total sets. They most recently faced each other last summer in Halle, where Federer prevailed 6-0, 7-6(1). He is 3-0 against Mayer on this surface (all in Halle).

This is by far Mayer’s best event since Halle in 2015, when he advanced to the quarterfinals. The world No. 226 soon found himself sidelined for the last four months of 2015 and did not play again until April of this year because of multiple injuries. Finally back and in form, Mayer qualified for the main draw in Stuttgart before beating No. 6 seed Viktor Troicki in straight sets and wild card Michael Berrer 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.