Taylor Fritz avoids "choke" repeat in Doha; gets Basilashvili in semis

It's not always easy to be in a winning position. Taylor Fritz was serving for the match against Denis Shapovalov in the third round of the US Open, and went down in five sets. He went five against an injured Novak Djokovic in the third round of the Australian Open, but it was the No. 1-ranked Serb who clinched the win.

This week, Fritz again found himself up 5-7, 6-3, 5-4 and serving for the match against Shapovalov in the quarterfinals of Doha, and again, he got broken. But unlike their previous encounter, the 23-year-old didn't collapse, instead regrouping to win the final two games.

"It was mentally a huge victory," Fritz told press. "The last time after it happened, I was so defeated by it because I knew I choked."

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The difference was his attitude.

''I blew it, but I just told myself, 'I can't let this happen again.'

"I need to be positive and try to come back and break him. I told myself, 'I need to play this game very aggressively.'"

Having reached a career-high No. 24 just over 12 months ago, Fritz is currently ranked just outside the Top 30. Wins like his victory against Shapovalov will provide confidence, noted the world No. 33.

"I’m feeling good, I’ve had a lot of court time, a lot of close wins," he said. "The most important thing for my game is winning the big points and coming through under pressure."

Fritz takes on Nikoloz Basilashvili in Friday's semifinals. The American won their lone prior meeting at Chengdu in 2017.