Taylor Fritz defeats Daniil Medvedev at ATP Finals to reach 50 wins for second straight year

Taylor Fritz made a winning start to his ATP Finals campaign on Sunday afternoon, taking out Daniil Medvedev, 6-4, 6-3, in his first round-robin match at the season-ending championships.

It was a milestone win for Fritz, too: his 50th of the year.

And having recorded 54 wins last year, Fritz becomes the first American man to record back-to-back 50-win seasons in 17 years.

Former world No. 4 James Blake was the last American man to achieve the feat, in 2006 (59 wins) and 2007 (54 wins).

TAYLOR FRITZ WIN-LOSS RECORDS BY YEAR (tour-level):
2015: 1-1
2016: 15-22
2017: 13-13
2018: 23-20
2019: 31-30
2020: 14-15
2021: 34-22
2022: 46-21
2023: 54-23
2024: 50-21

And for anyone wondering, Andy Roddick almost had back-to-back 50-win seasons in 2006 and 2007, too—he had 49 wins in 2006 and 54 wins in 2007. He came close the next three years as well, with 49 wins in 2008, 48 wins in 2009 and 48 wins in 2010.

Perhaps surprisingly, the two players had only played each other once before going into this one, with Medvedev prevailing in the quarterfinals of Cincinnati two years ago, 7-6 (1), 6-3.

This time Fritz got his revenge—and in straight sets, too.

After nine straight holds to start the match, it looked like Medvedev was going to make it 10 in a row, serving at 4-5, 30-15, but Fritz snuck out three points to clinch the first set. History repeated itself with Medvedev serving at 2-3, 30-15 in the second set, with Fritz winning the next three points—and eventually the next eight consecutive points—to break for 4-2 and hold at love for 5-2.

Medvedev held to close to 5-3 but then Fritz served it out at love.

The American finished the match with a 3:2 ratio of winners to unforced errors, 21 to 14, converting two of his four break point chances—and fighting off all three of Medvedev’s.

Jannik Sinner and Alex de Minaur will play each other tonight in the second round-robin match of the Ilie Nastase Group.