Debuting In Milan, Fritz Better Than Ever
Two years ago, Taylor Fritz took little time to announce his presence to the tennis world. The American, then just 18, became the youngest finalist on the ATP World Tour in a decade when he made the championship match in Memphis. Fritz would tally 15 tour-level match wins and lift an ATP Challenger Tour title in 2016, finishing the season as the youngest player in the Top 100 of the ATP Rankings to be named the ATP Star of Tomorrow presented by Emirates.
But in 2017, Fritz struggled with injury early on, and never quite found his rhythm, falling as low as World No. 136. Perhaps a favourite to qualify for the inaugural Next Gen ATP Finals last year, Fritz finished the ATP Race To Milan at No. 11, four spots away from directly qualifying.
Could a little confidence have made all the difference? Fritz began 2018 with two strong performances on the ATP Challenger Tour by reaching the final in Noumea, New Caledonia and lifting the title in Newport Beach, California. And he hasn’t looked back since.
“The Newport Beach Challenger gave me a lot of confidence that I needed. My first title in a very long time. The confidence you get from winning a tournament is huge, especially for me,” Fritz said. “I think confidence is everything. I think it's something that's very underrated in tennis.”
Even Fritz might not have expected that he would crack the Top 50 of the ATP Rankings this year, which he did on 29 October, pushing himself further than he ever was in 2016. Fritz advanced to the semi-finals in Houston and Chengdu, and on top of that, he made the last eight at three other tour-level events.
“He's only 20. He has a very big game. He can do a lot of damage. He's still, to me, a work in progress. I love the fact that, even as a work in progress, he's had the results he's had already,” Fritz’s coach Paul Annacone told ATPWorldTour.com in April at Houston. “I enjoy the fact that he's not afraid to work hard. He enjoys hitting the gym and doing all the things he's supposed to do.”
Fritz understands that a jump in both level and ATP Ranking does not happen overnight. Instead, he’s worked day-in and day-out to improve various facets of his game to accomplish his goals.
“I mean, I'm a young guy, so obviously I'm improving a lot in these last couple of years. And these next couple of years, I'm going to be improving a lot,” Fritz said. “I'm definitely bigger and stronger fitness-wise. I'm definitely in a better place than I was last year with my gym work. And I think my backhand is better. I think everything's better, to be honest. My volleys are a lot better. I think I move better.”
Fritz has shown no apprehension in competing against some of the best players in the world. In 2017, Fritz fell in a tight four-setter against Dominic Thiem at the US Open. And after reaching the third round at Flushing Meadows this season, the same opponent stood across the net.
“As a young guy, definitely looking to compete against the best players in the world and earn my spot and show people that I can compete with those type of players,” Fritz said.
The American was not able to get the win, but in another tight four-setter, he showed he is right on the doorstep against some of the world’s best.
One thing Fritz doesn’t lack is confidence under pressure. Of all players who have played 20 or more tour-level tie-breaks in 2018, the 21-year-old is second on the ATP World Tour with a 19-7 record in 2018. Over the course of his career, Fritz is 12-2 at all levels in deciding tie-breaks.
“I have this thing I always say, 'I don't lose third-set tie-breaks',” Fritz said. “It feels like I'm pretty clutch.”
Fritz will hope that remains the case at the Fiera Milano next week, as he tries to lift the trophy at the Next Gen ATP Finals.