MEMPHIS, Tenn. — American teenager Taylor Fritz won the biggest match of his career Thursday night, beating second-seeded Steve Johnson 7-6 (5), 7-6 (7) in the second round of the Memphis Open.
The 18-year-old Fritz, the U.S. Open junior winner last year, advanced to the quarterfinals Friday against Germany's Benjamin Becker, a 6-2, 7-6 (6) winner over seventh-seeded John Millman of Australia.
Third-seeded Donald Young was the only seeded player to survive Thursday, topping Marcel Granollers 6-1, 7-6 (2). Ricardes Berankis of Lithuania ousted No. 8 seed Damir Dzumhur of Boznia and Herzegovina 6-3, 6-4.
The victory moved Fritz into his first quarterfinal on the ATP Tour, becoming the first American 18-year-old to reach the quarters of a tour event since Denis Kudla at Newport in 2011.