(Tennis news) Rafael Nadal succumbed to a straight set defeat to debutant Taylor Fritz in the opening match of the ATP Finals in Turin. Nadal had the opportunity to progress to World Number 1 as he was 1000 points behind countryman Carlos Alcaraz but was defeated 7-6 (7-3) 6-1 to his American opponent. Nadal hasn’t won a match since the third round of the US Open more than two months ago and despite performing at a high level in the first set, he couldn’t maintain the intensity in the second. Fritz, 25, defeated Nadal for the second time this season, also winning against the Spaniard at the Indian Wells earlier this year. 

Speaking after the match, Nadal said “I don't think I was getting in the right positions in the first set. I think that my serve worked well, then he was hitting the ball very hard. I need more matches to play at this kind of level, even if I am practising well, much better than how I am competing, without a doubt. That's normal. It's not the ideal tournament and probably part of the season to come back after a couple of months without being on the tour because you don't have time to get confidence. In this tournament I still have a chance. But of course I'm not happy about the beginning. That first match was very important for me."

Fritz will now face Casper Ruud who defeated Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-6 (7-4) 6-4. The contest was largely dominated by serve but Felix couldn’t maintain his form and a single break in the seventh game of the second set proved enough for Ruud. In other results, Lloyd Glasspool and Finn Harri Heliovaara defeated French Open champions Marcelo Arevalo and Jean-Julien Rojer 7-5 7-6 (7-3). Despite missing two match points, US Open winners Joe Salisbury and American Rajeev Ram overcame Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos 6-3 6-7 (8-10) (10-8). 

Also read: Novak Djokovic defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in the ATP finals