Tennis News: Taylor Fritz defeats compatriot Frances Tiafoe to win Tokyo title

He became the 10th different American singles winner at the ATP 500 event and the first one after Pete Sampras in 1996. On Monday, Fritz will climb to the world's number eight in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. 

In addition, he has jumped three spots to seventh in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race to Turin. In disbelief, Fritz addressed the media, "[It's] crazy, I don't even think it's set in just how fast the last four or five days have been."

He believes the win puts him in a good position for the ATP Race to Turin at the end of the year. Frances Tiafoe carried a streak of 13 tie-break wins into the title match, but Fritz displayed an aggressive style of playing that gave him the upper hand.

He kept all his points on serve in both tie-breaks and converted on early leads. He clinched 78 per cent of points from his first delivery and 75 per cent on the second serve. 

"I felt extremely calm and I felt like I had a lot of clarity in making decisions on the court," revealed Fritz. The third seed created eight break chances compared to three for Tiafoe. 

Fourth seed Frances Tiafoe put up an intense fight

Tiafoe faced a set point at his 4-5 service game, but he fended it off, similar to the second set point created by his opponent in the following service game. 

However, the fourth seed defensively turned the point around to force a tie-break. Fritz caught an early break in the tie-break and took the set with a forehand winner.

Tiafoe saved two break points in the second set and almost conceded two of his service games. Fritz did not face a single break point in the set and broke Tiafoe early in the second tie-break.

The score rested at 6-1 in favour of Fritz, and a frustrated Tiafoe managed to save one match point before sending a forehand long on the second one landing Fritz a well-deserved title that now stands beside his remaining 2022 titles in Indian Wells and Eastbourne.

Entering the final at their career highs, both players will be rewarded with a boost in their rankings. Fritz will become the first American to crack the top 10 since Jack Sock in 2017. 

Tiafoe will climb two spots to become world number 17. Fritz now leads their ATP head2head series 5-1. The summit clash marked the first all-American singles final in Tokyo since 1996 when Pete Sampras defeated Richey Reneberg.

The 2022 Tokyo final was the fifth all-American tour-level final of 2022, the highest number since 2002. Fritz's name now resides alongside the Big Four - Roger Federer (2006), Rafael Nadal (2010), Andy Murray (2011) and Novak Djokovic (2019) - among Tokyo's decorated champions.