It was a disappointing day for Fritz on the terre battue.
Befuddled by a steady diet of drop shots from Basavareddy, the former world No.4's lack of match play showed.
“He’s prepared his body to withstand the troubles that his knee tendinitis has been giving him, but he’s only played one match in the last two months."
The former US Open finalist demonstrated determination late in the third set, saving a match point and converting his fifth set point to stay alive, but he couldn't contain Basavareddy in the fourth.
The drop shots were part of the plan for the 21-year-old, whose variety and versatility were on display across the three hour and 23-minute tussle.
It was a disappointing day for Fritz on the terre battue. Befuddled by a steady diet of drop shots from Basavareddy, the former world No.4's lack of match play showed.
“It shouldn't come as a huge surprise if you are in the weeds of tennis and you understand that Fritz is so underprepared competitively,” said two-time Roland-Garros champion Jim Courier, who commentated the match for TNT. “He’s prepared his body to withstand the troubles that his knee tendinitis has been giving him, but he’s only played one match in the last two months."
The former US Open finalist demonstrated determination late in the third set, saving a match point and converting his fifth set point to stay alive, but he couldn't contain Basavareddy in the fourth.
The drop shots were part of the plan for the 21-year-old, whose variety and versatility were on display across the three hour and 23-minute tussle.
