Injury bothering Fritz as race to Turin tightens

Taylor Fritz kept his name in the race for a possible eighth spot at the ATP Finals as he received treatment for an abdominal muscle problem which has him worried at the Paris Masters on Monday.

The provisional No. 9 in the sprint to the year-ender from November 12 in Turin took second set treatment for a problem which he said felt its worst ever during his 6-1, 6-4 defeat of Sebastian Baez in the first round.

“It’s something that’s been bothering me for a little bit,” the American said. 

“I didn’t think it was anything too bad going in.. but when I slid out and sliced that forehand, I felt like I did something that I had never done to it before.

“Like maybe I tore something or pulled it.”

He added: “”I’m going to have to get it checked out and see what’s going on.”

Fritz trails Turin No. 9 Holger Rune, with the Dane due to open in the second round after a bye as sixth seed.

Victory by Fritz moved him past Basel finalist Hubert Hurkacz in the year-end table, trailing Rune by 190 points as the youngster defends his Masters title here from a year ago.