Taylor Fritz added another victory to his 2021 tally at the Sardegna Open on Friday when he defeated Aljaz Bedene 6-3, 6-4 to reach his second semi-final of the season.
The second seed, who is competing as the American No. 1 for the first time this week, struck eight aces and won 86 per cent of his first-serve points (25/29) to advance in 85 minutes. Fritz holds an 11-5 record this season and will aim to reach his first final of the year in Cagliari, following his semi-final loss at last month’s Qatar ExxonMobil Open (l. to Basilashvili).
Fritz levelled his ATP Head2Head series against Bedene with his quarter-final win at the ATP 250. The American lost his only previous match against the 31-year-old at last year’s Western & Southern Open.
Fritz will face third seed Lorenzo Sonego for a place in the final. Sonego rallied from 3-6, 3-5 down to overcome Yannick Hanfmann 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-3 in two hours and 43 minutes. World No. 30 Fritz leads Sonego 2-1 in their ATP Head2Head rivalry, but he lost the pair’s only previous clay-court encounter at Roland Garros last year.