Fritz and Mensik exchanged breaks to start the contest, with the American overhitting a routine drive volley to hand back his initial advantage. There wouldn’t be many more moments like that from Fritz’s end of the court, as his timing and point-building grew in confidence to emerge as the locked-in competitor.
At 3-3, Fritz found a way to break from 40-15 down. After being caught late on a forehand, Mensik double-faulted to bring the American to deuce. Though he erased a break point, the world No. 17 eventually dropped serve. Fritz curled a backhand passing shot for a second ad-out point ahead of Mensik’s forehand breaking down again.
Mensik staved off four set points in his next service game, before Fritz comfortably served it out. A brief rain delay followed, as the players exited the court. When play resumed, the momentum stayed with the hosts.
