Taylor Fritz is through to the quarter-final at the ATP 250 event in Delray Beach.
The top seed faced fellow former US Open junior champion Rafael Jodar and prevailed 7-6, 6-4.
Après une défaite frustrante en finale à Dallas 🇺🇸, Taylor Fritz 🇺🇸 repart de l’avant à Delray Beach avec une victoire en 2 sets (7-6, 6-4) face à Rafael Jodar 🇪🇸 !!! 🔥
L’Américain sera opposé à son ami Tommy Paul 🇺🇸 en 1/4 de finale. 🍿
pic.twitter.com/dLjRwdVz4Q— Game, Set & Talk (@GameSetAndTalk) February 20, 2026
The young Spaniard challenged the top-10 rival and played better behind the second serve. However, the American dominated behind the first serve and denied two of three break points.
Taylor generated eight chances on the return and seized two. He overcame a slow start and claimed the opener in the tie break before moving over the top with another break in the closing stages of the second set.
The young gun made a reliable start and broke world no. 8 in the second game of the encounter after the American's forehand error. Jodar squandered game points in the next one and experienced a break after Fritz's sharp forehand down the line attack.
Both players served well in the remaining games, with world no. 118 following the rival's pace. The Spaniard closed the 11th game with a service winner before his rival mirrored that in the next one to introduce a tie break.
Rafael Jodar & Taylor Fritz, Delray Beach 2026© Stream screenshot
Rafael missed a forehand in the first point and fell 3-0 behind. Jodar pulled the mini-break back with a forehand winner in the seventh point before spraying a forehand error in the next one to find himself 5-3 behind.
The Spaniard missed a forehand in the tenth point and offered his rival two set points. Taylor seized the first with a service winner for 7-6 after 54 minutes. Jodar defended two break points in the second game of the second set and repeated that two games later.
The young gun squandered many game points in the sixth game and faced a break point. He saved it with a fine forehand attack and held for 3-3 and more drama. They served well in the next three games, and Rafael needed another fine hold at 4-5.
He squandered three game points and missed a forehand on a match point to propel the favorite through.
