Taylor Fritz is making himself right at home in Delray Beach. The two-time defending champion and world No. 4 delivered a rock-solid performance in the second round of the ATP 250 event, defeating China’s Yunchaokete Bu 7-6(4), 6-2 to book his place in the quarterfinals.
Fritz, who has now won eight consecutive matches at the tournament, overcame an early test from Bu before settling into his rhythm, using his dominant serve and clean baseline game to pull away in the second set. The top seed wrapped up the win in an hour and 37 minutes, keeping his title defense alive.
Fritz Fights Through Tough First Set
Bu, a rising star from China, came out determined to make things difficult for Fritz. The American had to stay composed in a competitive opening set, where both players held serve tightly. Fritz had multiple chances to break at 5-4, missing three set points on return as Bu showed resilience under pressure.
- Fritz faced a break point in the fifth game but held firm, keeping the momentum on his side.
- The set eventually went to a tiebreak, where Fritz’s big-match experience took over.
- He raced to a 6-3 lead, capitalizing on Bu’s forehand errors before closing it out 7-4.
That first set lasted over an hour, but once Fritz had it in the bag, the match was all but decided.
Second Set Surge: Fritz Takes Over
The second set was a masterclass in efficiency. Bu’s level dropped, and Fritz took full advantage:
- Immediate Break: Fritz broke in the opening game with a sharp volley winner.
- Domination on Serve: The American lost just one point on serve in the set, keeping his opponent under constant pressure.
- Another Break: A second break in the fifth game gave Fritz a commanding 4-1 lead.
- Flawless Finish: Serving at 5-2, Fritz held at love, sealing the match with a service winner.
By the end, Fritz had fired 32 service winners, controlling the match with a staggering 41-21 winners-to-errors ratio. Bu, meanwhile, faded down the stretch, finishing with 18 winners and 21 unforced errors.
What’s Next for Fritz?
With his streak intact and his game firing on all cylinders, Fritz now heads into the quarterfinals, where he’ll face a tricky opponent looking to disrupt his Delray Beach dominance.
If he continues this level of play, the three-peat dream could very well become a reality.
