Top-seeded Fritz will face Kecmanovic in Delray Beach Final

Taylor Fritz won against Mackenzie McDonald 6-3, 7-6 (6) on Saturday night and will play Serb Miomir Kecmanovic, the No 4 seed, in the final

Taylor Fritz, Delray Beach 2023 | © Icon SMI / Panoramic

Tennis Majors

February 19, 2023

Delray Beach Open •Semi-final • completed

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T. FritzvsM. McDonald

Top seed Taylor Fritz continues to run the table at the Delray Beach Open without the loss of a set, as he knocked off his compatriot Mackenzie McDonald 6-3, 7-6 (6) at the Delray Beach Stadium and Tennis Center on Saturday evening.

Ahead of his victory, Taylor Fritz beat Ecuadorian Emilio Gomez (6-4, 6-3) and Frenchman Adrian Mannarino (7-6 (8), 6-4).

Fritz set the tone early against McDonald, reeling off the first five games of the match, before the former UCLA Bruin got a foothold in the match.

Once McDonald gained a comfort level, he proved to be a tough man to play against. He won three games on the trot to make the opening set close, then jumped out by a break in the second set before the No 7-ranked Fritz rallied to finish off the victory.

Fritz said after the match that he felt he became to passive for a stretch.

Tenth ATP final for Fritz

“It got a little closer,” Fritz said. “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.”

The California native will face Miomir Kecmanovic on Sunday as he bids for his fifth ATP title in his 10th final. He told the crowd that it doesn’t quite feel like he has been in ten finals on court.

“I don’t feel like I’ve been in ten,” he said. “But I guess I tried to forget about the ones I lose.”

A 10th career final!@Taylor_Fritz97 takes down McDonald 6-3 7-6 to reach the Delray title match.@DelrayBeachOpen | #DBOpen pic.twitter.com/WGAg62h3XW
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 19, 2023

Fritz owns a 2-1 lifetime edge over Kecmanovic, but it was Kecmanovic who took their last meeting, at Miami last year.

“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.”

McDonald, ranked No 56, defeated Japanese Taro Daniel (6-2, 6-2), Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka, the No 5 seed (6-3, 3-6, 6-2) and Michael Mmoh (3-6, 6-3, 6-4) in the previous rounds of the Delray Beach tournament.