Taylor Fritz "feeling the love" in Monte Carlo as he records 150th win of career

Taylor Fritz has had a sensational last six weeks—not only did he capture his first Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells, but he also defeated one of the Big 3 for the first time by beating Rafael Nadal in the final there, and he subsequently made his Top 15 debut.

The American No. 1 has since shifted to clay, and on Wednesday in Monte Carlo he defeated Marin Cilic, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, for the 150th tour-level win of his career.

“The margins were really small,” Fritz said of the two-hour, 15-minute battle. “It’s always going to be like that with two guys who rely a lot on serve. He clipped a line on his break point in the second set, and I clipped a line on my break point in the third.

“Literally centimeters is just the difference in the match, really.”

Fritz was asked about crowds showing him more and more support these days.

“I think probably just because of Indian Wells, I guess my name’s more known, maybe in Europe especially with playing Nadal in the finals,” he said. “It’s just nice to be out here in Monte Carlo and have the fans supporting me, and feel the love.

"It’s awesome.”

Fritz is the 72nd American man in the Open Era to achieve 150 career wins, and just the fifth active American man to do it.

ACTIVE U.S. MEN WITH 150+ CAREER WINS (tour-level)
466: John Isner
383: Sam Querrey
186: Steve Johnson
175: Jack Sock
150: Taylor Fritz

Fritz is into the round of 16 at a Masters 1000 event on clay for the second time, having gone that far here in 2019 (falling to Novak Djokovic). He’ll face countryman Sebastian Korda tomorrow for a spot in his first Masters 1000 quarterfinal on clay.