I didn’t come into the season with any sort of agenda against Taylor Fritz, but I’ll be against him twice in as many days.
The American was strong when he needed to be against Cam Norrie, but the bigger story coming out of the contest was the quad strain he sustained, something he attributed to ‘too much sprinting’ during the team USA workouts.
It obviously didn’t hamper him too much, but he called the physio out three times during Saturday’s win, and had he not made a miraculous passing shot at 5-5 in the tiebreaker, he may not be sitting with a 1-0 record here.
I want to make it clear; I think the world of Fritz.
He’s clearly the best American player on the tour and I think he’s in for another good season, but so is his opponent.
Alex De Minaur ran into a feisty version of Cam Norrie the other night, and wasn’t able to cap off his comeback attempt, but on a slower version of these courts during an 8pm kick-off, I think he can make a few more balls than what Fritz is used to.
De Minaur – like Norrie – is a tenacious competitor but will have the overwhelming backing of the home crowd, as well as the overall better defence and scrambling ability.
Layman’s terms, you ask:
In short, Fritz will have to run more, sweat more, and work harder to get the win on Saturday night.
With a niggling quad injury, combined with De Minaur’s home court advantage and desire to square his United Cup ledger at 1-1, I’m on the Aussie.
Suggested Bet
0.75 units Alex De Minaur to WIN @ $2.34 with Pinnacle/BetKings, widely available at 2.2+
You can keep across Jake’s previews at @AceSportPreview, as well as providing some audio content as well!
Over 18s Only (21+ in some jurisdictions). 1 unit = 1% of bankroll. Please enjoy your betting responsibly. Never bet more than you can afford to lose, and do not chase a loss.