By Alberto Amalfi | Thursday, October 19, 2023
Japanese wild card Shintaro Mochizuki scored his first Top 10 win in a thriller toppling top-seeded Taylor Fritz 0-6, 6-4, 7-6(2) to reach the Tokyo quarterfinals.
Photo credit: Japan Open Facebook
It’s always darkest before dawn.
Completely defused in the first set, Shintaro Mochizuki shined bright scoring his first career Top 10 win.
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Japanese wild card Mochizuki scored the biggest win of his career toppling top-seeded Taylor Fritz 0-6, 6-4, 7-6(2) to reach the Tokyo quarterfinals and thrill home fans.
Though he looked like the calmest man in the place powering back from a shutout opening set and a 2-5 third-set deficit, Mochizuki said he was stupefied by his comeback.
“I don’t really know what is happening right now,” Mochizuki said. “I lost the first set so easy, so quick. Everyone knows he is a great player but I kept fighting and that is all I could do. I am so happy. I don’t know how, but I won the match.
“I was a bit nervous at the start, not swinging. I was scared to miss. Then I tried to forget about everything and just started playing my game from the second set and that is how it went.”
It’s a stinging loss for Fritz, who seemed to be in total command for stretches and served for the quarterfinals at 5-3 only to see the Japanese wild card break at love sparking a run of eight straight points.
The 20-year-old from Kawasaki, Japan continues a Cinderella run through the Tokyo field.
World No. 215 Mochizuki will take on Aussie Alexei Popyrin for a semifinal spot.
The 41st-ranked Popyrin popped eight aces and exploited nine double faults from Cristian Garin in a 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-2 victory.
