Taylor Fritz’s match against Joao Fonseca at the Eastbourne tournament was suspended due to darkness on Wednesday evening, with both players having won a set each. The decision came after discussions with ATP supervisor Jerry Armstrong, as the players agreed that visibility was insufficient to continue. Fonseca emphasized the challenges of playing in dim conditions, while Fritz supported the call, stating that it wouldn’t make sense to continue under such circumstances.
The match saw Fritz, the top seed and currently ranked No. 5 in the world, winning the opening set 6-3 in just 26 minutes. However, Fonseca staged a comeback, winning the second set in a tiebreak. The duo will return to the court on Thursday afternoon to play the final set, with the winner set to face American Marcos Giron in the quarter-finals.
Elsewhere, British No. 5 Dan Evans recorded an impressive upset by defeating Tommy Paul, a fellow American, progressing into the quarter-finals where he will compete against another American, Jenson Brooksby. Evans expressed his joy and gratitude towards the crowd, citing his personal confidence and preparation as key factors in his recent performance.
Additionally, lucky loser Billy Harris also made headlines by reaching the quarter-finals for the second consecutive year after a solid match against Mattia Bellucci. Meanwhile, Czech third seed Jakub Mensik is set to compete against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in another quarter-final match.
The upcoming matches are highly anticipated as players look to make their mark in this important tournament leading up to the grass season.