(Stuttgart) American Taylor Fritz got his grass season off to a good start on Thursday with a 7-6 (4), 6-3 straight-set victory over Russia’s Aslan Karatsev in a second-round Open match. from Stuttgart on Thursday.

Fritz still had to save a set point in the first set as he trailed 4-5. The American, seeded second and eighth in the world, built a 5-2 lead in the break before closing the set.

In the second set, Fritz had his first break of the game in the sixth game, which allowed him to take a 4-2 lead.

After the match, Fritz said he was extremely pleased with the victory, as well as the quality of his service and return play on the grass.

Last year, Fritz had his best campaign on grass. He had won the Eastbourne tournament and reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon.

In the quarter-finals, he will face the Hungarian Marton Fucsovics.

A few hours later, moreover, the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, favorite of the competition, was shown the exit door by the French veteran Richard Gasquet, who won in three sets of 7-6 (8), 2-6, 7-5.

For Gasquet, it is a 600^e career victory on the ATP Tour.

Gasquet, who will celebrate his 37^e birthday on Sunday, had a difficult start, conceding the first three games of the match. He bounced back, however, and tied the game 3-3 before winning the opening set tiebreaker.

Tsitsipas, who was on his first outing on the grass in 2023, saved four match points before collapsing.

Gasquet, ranked 55^ewill play his next match against Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff, who beat American Tommy Paul 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5).