Down in Dallas, it was the fourth day of play at the ATP Dallas Open. The round of 16 has been completed and the final eight men vying to win this event are set. There are some familiar names and some newcomers as well. Here is everything that went down in Dallas on day four.
ATP Dallas Open Day Four Recap
(1) Taylor Fritz vs (WC) Jack Sock
In this match between two Americans, Jack Sock had to battle in three sets to get to this point. Top seed Taylor Fritz received a bye into this round. Jack Sock looking to regain his form from years past. Meanwhile, Fritz was looking to bounce back from his early exit down in Melbourne.
In the opening set, both players had their serve working. Sock won 74% of his first serve points while Fritz posted a ridiculous 91% of first serve points won. Sock did face three break points in the opening set but was able to battle through and keep pace with Fritz.
The first set culminated in a tiebreak. At 5-5 in the breaker, an extended rally between the two went the way of the top seed and Fritz jumped out in front. With a forehand from Sock going long, Fritz took the first set 7-6(5). Sock was able to save three break points in the opening set however, in the opening game of the second set Fritz jump-started this set by breaking Sock to take an early lead.
Fritz continued his serving prowess in the second set, winning 90% of his first serve points to go along with five aces and zero double faults. The break Fritz got in the opening game was all he needed here, as Fritz advances in straight sets 7-6(5) 6-4. Fritz takes on fellow American, the seventh seed Marcos Giron.
(4) Miomir Kecmanovic vs Emilio Gomez
With Emilio Gomez having to scratch and claw his way to victory in the previous round, he had a tough matchup ahead of him, taking on the fourth seed Miomir Kecmanovic at the ATP Dallas Open. If Gomez was going to win this match, he needed to take the lead early.
That’s the opposite of what happened here. Gomez only won one point on serve in the opening game and Kecmanovic got the early break. Gomez continued to struggle on serve as he was broken yet again at 1-2 and Kecmanovic took a 3-1 lead. The dominance for Kecmanovic continued as jumped out to a 5-1 lead and was able to win the set 6-2.
One of the bright spots in this sport is the ability to watch a player battle back and turn the momentum of the match around. That’s what Gomez did in the second set. With Kecmanovic serving at 2-3, Gomez broke after an extended rally. Gomez’s lead didn’t last as long as he was broken the very next game.
The second set went to a tiebreak, which Gomez needed to win to stay alive. With neither player gaining an edge, eventually Gomez took the lead at 5-4. At 6-4 for Gomez, an errant forehand for Kecmanovic went wide and we were at one set apiece.
The final set between these two was as back and forth as you can get. Both players holding serve, game after game. Gomez faced a break point at 3-2 but he was able to hold serve and keep pace. At 4-4, Kecmanovic stepped to the line to keep pace in this third and decisive set. Gomez jumped out to a 0-40 lead and broke Kecmanovic at 15-40.
Gomez after getting outclassed and outplayed in the opening set finally found himself at the finish line. Serving a 5-4 and hitting an ace in the corner, this was a day Emilio Gomez will never forget. Gomez advances in an absolute battle 2-6 7-6(4) 6-4. Gomez will take on fifth seed, American John Isner in the quarterfinals.
(5) John Isner vs Daniel Altmaier
For the third time in two days, we saw an American player take on a German player at the ATP Dallas Open as fifth seed John Isner faced Daniel Altmaier. Normally with matches featuring Isner, there a lot of tiebreak sets but that wasn’t the case in this opener.
With Altmaier serving at 2-3, Isner grabbed the break to go up 4-2. Isner rolled through this first set, hitting six aces, and winning an astounding 94% of his first serve points as he took the opening set 6-3.
In the second set, Isner continued serving at an elite level, hitting 12 aces with zero double faults. Altmaier didn’t serve poorly either, hitting 8 aces. He faced two break points but was able to save them to keep pace with the dominant server he was facing across the net.
The second set finished with a tiebreak that was dominated by the American. Isner won the tiebreaker 7-1 and advanced to the quarterfinals in straight sets 6-3 7-6(1). He will take on surprise quarterfinalist Emilio Gomez.
(8) Adrian Mannarino vs Jordan Thompson
In this matchup between the eighth seed Adrian Mannarino and Jordan Thompson, both players won in straight sets in their previous round. Mannarino grabbed the lead early by holding at love and then breaking at love to go up 2-0. The experience by the Frenchman was on full display as he jumped out to a 5-1 lead.
Mannarino was able to break the Thompson serve three times in the opening set. After Mannarino was broken serving for the set, he broke back and took the opening set 6-2.
The second set showed more consistency from Thompson as he was able to keep pace with Mannarino. Both players served exceptionally well, hitting a combined 11 aces with Thompson having 6. Each player faced one break point, which they were both able to save and the second set went to a tiebreak.
As in the previous round where Mannarino won in straight sets, Mannarino was through in straight sets on this day. Mannarino advances to the quarterfinals 6-2 7-6(3). Wu Yibing, who upset Denis Shapovalov will take on Mannarino in the quarters.
(7) Marcos Giron vs Oscar Otte
Seventh seed Marcos Giron and Oscar Otte both had to battle in three sets in the previous round to get to this round of 16 clash. With a spot in the quarterfinals on the line both players needed to play at their absolute best. The opening set saw both players holding serve, including an absolute battle at 2-2 where Otte went up 40-15 and Giron battling back to get it to deuce.
Otte was able to keep his composure and keep even in the opening set. The very next game saw an incredible recovery from the American. Giron was down 0-40 and was able to win four straight points and held serve. At 3-3, Giron grabbed the break to go up 4-3. The one break was all Giron needed as he took the opening set 6-4.
The second set was more of the same story. At 3-3, Giron broke the Otte serve again to go up 4-3 and he never wavered. Giron held serve to go up 5-3 which put the pressure on Otte to hold to stay in the match. Marcos Giron was just able to get into the Otte services games all day long as he broke Otte again to win the match in straight sets. Giron advances to the quarterfinals 6-4 6-3. Marcos Giron will battle fellow American and top seed Taylor Fritz.
Main photo credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
