Following early upsets at the US Open, three Americans — Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul and Frances Tiafoe — have a big opportunity to make a move in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin.
Fritz reached the semi-finals at last year’s Nitto ATP Finals, while his countrymen have an opportunity to move into qualifying position with a big run at the season’s final major.
Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin
*Eliminated from US Open
With early exits by fifth-placed Stefanos Tsitsipas and seventh-placed Holger Rune, eighth-placed Fritz has a big chance to consolidate his standing. Into the third round at Flushing Meadows, the American currently has 2,740 points. Another win would put him at 2,830 points and a run to the quarter-finals would give him 3,010 points, moving him within 45 points of Rune.
Fritz will play Jakub Mensik on the Czech’s 18th birthday Friday and if he wins, would not face a seeded opponent in the fourth round. Second seed Novak Djokovic is his projected quarter-final opponent.
Two-time Nitto ATP Finals champion Alexander Zverev is in ninth place, just 35 points behind Fritz, putting him in a similar position to the American. The German has reached the semi-finals and final in his past two US Open appearances.
When 10th-placed Casper Ruud lost on Wednesday evening, that opened the door for players behind him to surge, particularly those on the bottom half of the draw.
Twelfth-placed Tommy Paul and 13th-placed Frances Tiafoe are the highest-ranked players in their quarter of the draw and could meet in the quarter-finals. A semi-final yields a player 720 points at Grand Slam tournaments. Such a gain would put either man firmly in Turin contention.
Alex de Minaur, who is in the top half of the draw, is in 11th place in the Live Race. Like Paul and Tiafoe, the recent Toronto finalist is also trying to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time.
Did You Know?
Two players have qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals: Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic. The Spaniard is set to compete at the season finale for the first time after withdrawing last year due to injury, while the Serbian will try to successfully defend his 2022 title at the Pala Alpitour.
