The Japan Open witnessed a phenomenal moment when 20-year-old Shintaro Mochizuki dazzled the entire tennis community. He did with his remarkable triumph over the imposing Taylor Fritz. Mochizuki’s victory against the American ace was undeniably one of the standout bombshells of the season. The exciting victory showcased his incredible skill and distinct fighting spirit. Yet, what makes this story significantly more entrancing is the way that Mochizuki’s talent was recognized by the Swiss legend Roger Federer himself. It happened almost four years before the Japanese left his imprint on Fritz.

In 2019, the Swiss Maestro had personally chosen Mochizuki as his sparring partner during the ATP Finals. Federer’s stamp of approval had been based on Mochizuki’s extraordinary speed and powerful serves.

Mochizuki witnessed a remarkable journey from practice partner of Roger Federer to victory over Taylor Fritz

Quick forward to the present, and Shintaro Mochizuki is surfing huge waves on the ATP circuit. His victory over Taylor Fritz at the Japan Open exhibited his wonderful flexibility and versatility. In the first set, the Japanese lost the first set by a staggering 6-0 margin but managed to stage a remarkable comeback. The star won the dazzling second set but also broke Fritz’s serve when the American was serving for the match at 5-3 in the deciding set. The Japanese star won the most significant win of his young career.

Four years ago, Federer’s selection of Mochizuki wasn’t just coincidental. He had perceived something special in the Japanese remarkable style of play. His dexterity on the court and the accuracy of his serves were characteristics that Federer greatly appreciated. A trending tweet read,” Don’t be surprised by Shintaro Mochizuki’s talent; even Roger Federer was impressed back in 2019.”

The tweet also explained, “The 20-year-old Japanese player’s victory over Taylor Fritz is undoubtedly one of the upsets of the season… After all, Federer saw something in him.”

The Japanese ace like other aspiring tennis players, had consistently admired Roger Federer as his venerated idol.

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The chance to share the training court with Federer, to perceive how he behaved on and off the court, was a blessing from heaven for Mochizuki. The experience significantly affected Mochizuki’s way of dealing with the game.

Several fans were upset as Fritz faced a shocking defeat at the Japan Open

In the recent match at Japan, Taylor Fritz was the expected winner. However, the Japanese star managed to pull off an unexpected victory despite losing the first set. This victory was a significant success for the local player. Yet, it didn’t reflect well on the American, particularly in the eyes of his fans on X. They didn’t hold back in expressing their disappointment after one of the most surprising losses in his career. Following this result, tennis fans became even more critical of the American.

Fritz’s performance left fans greatly disheartened since they anticipated him to secure a win, especially against an opponent with a lower ranking. Fans were so upset about the loss that they resorted to name-calling. While it’s understood that losses and wins are part of the game, fans were shocked that he lost to a player ranked as low as No. 215. However, the string of negative comments didn’t stop there. It continued as fans shared their frustration about the match.

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