Fritz wins Japan Open

Final day in Tokyo.

2022 Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships, an ATP 500 tournament, on Hard, in Tokyo, Japan, 3-9 October 2022.

Not held in 2020-2021 due to COVID

2019 champion (not defending):

Novak Djokovic (1) who defeated qualifier John Millman 6-3 6-2

Final:

Frances Tiafoe (4) (USA) v Taylor Fritz (3) (USA)

Tiafoe won the first match between the players, first round of 2016 Indian Wells.

Fritz won the next four, including two this year. Most recent was the second round of Canada Masters in August.

In this final the pair exchanged service breaks in games three and four of the opening set.

Tiafoe saved a break point to level at 3-3.

Tiafoe saved a set point when serving at 4-5, and held for 5-5.

Fritz saved a break point in the next game.

Tiafoe saved another set point when serving at 5-6 and forced a tie break.

Tiafoe lost the point on his first serve in the tie break, and Fritz won all points on his serve.

Therefore, Fritz was able to reach 6-3, with Tiafoe serving to stay in the set.

Tiafoe couldn’t win the next point and Fritz took the set 7-6(3).

Tiafoe saved break points in games three and five of set two, but neither player dropped serve in the set.

Another tie break was required.

Again Fritz won all points on his serve, while Tiafoe lost points on his own serve three times, once when facing match point.

Taylor Fritz won the set and the match 7-6(3) 7-6(2).

This was title number four from nine finals for Fritz.

Three titles have come this year, and Fritz will now enter the top ten for the first time (#8).