Taylor Fritz

[grzes430]

[Lleyton]

Fritz Finishes Off Friend

Spoiler:

American improves to 1-1 in Group B

Taylor Fritz and Liam Caruana played for the first time when they were 10 years old, but never have they competed on a stage like the Next Gen ATP Finals. They did so on Wednesday, with Fritz defeating home favourite Caruana 1-4, 4-1, 4-3(9), 4-2 to earn his first victory here in Milan.

The second match of the day session was a pressure-packed affair, as both players had lost their openers on Tuesday. But both Fritz and Caruana entered the tournament with momentum, as Fritz is at a career-high No. 47 in the ATP Rankings, and Caruana won three matches in three days in an Italian 21-and-under wild card playoff to make his way into the event.

Caruana got the home crowd into the match early, putting on an entertaining display of shotmaking to force Fritz to the back foot. The eighth seed lost just three service points in the first set to get into the match.

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But Fritz did well to play his favoured patterns, going hard cross-court with his backhand to open up opportunities to aggressively crack his forehand. And it looked like the American might cruise after taking the second set with the loss of just a game.

But in the third set, Caruana again hit sensational shots to match the fourth seed, even hitting a Pete Sampras-like diving backhand drop volley for a winner in the third set tie-break to give himself the second of three set points. The Italian had more ups and downs, though, and Fritz’s higher level of consistency gave him a two-sets-to-one lead.

In the fourth set, Fritz claimed his second break of the day. And when Caruana missed a forehand well wide, the American entered the winners’ column after one hour and 22 minutes. Fritz now has 23 tour-level match wins this season, in which he reached semi-finals in Houston and Chengdu.

https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/fr ... nesday-atp

[arti]

[arti]

Fritz & Tiafoe Leading American #NextGenATP Charge

Spoiler:

Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz have both had breakthrough seasons on the ATP World Tour in 2018, qualifying for the prestigious Next Gen ATP Finals. They are also on track to finish the year inside the Top 50 of the ATP Rankings for the first time. The last time two Americans aged 21 and under have done that came 15 years ago, when Andy Roddick, Mardy Fish and Tiafoe’s coach, Robby Ginepri, accomplished the feat.

That’s a massive achievement, and for more than the reason you’d expect.

“When I was 14, 15, if you would’ve asked me if Taylor would play tennis, I would not have believed it,” Tiafoe joked.

To an extent, even Fritz thought along the same lines. Tiafoe lost just three games against Fritz in a junior final in Tulsa, Oklahoma five years ago, after all. Fritz, the son of Kathy May Fritz, who reached the Top 10 in the world, went to regular high school in California at first.

“I always thought I was probably much better than I actually was when I was at that age, like, 14, 15 years old,” Fritz said.

Then he moved to Florida to train at a USTA facility. And that’s when he saw that there were players his age who could not only match him, but beat him.

“That's when I realised that, wow, if I actually wanted to be a pro, I'm going to have to be better than those guys. And so I really went to work, and I had those guys to build off,” Fritz said. “I just worked really, really hard. And, they will all tell you Tommy [Paul], Reilly [Opelka], [Stefan] Kozlov, Frances, I wasn't even close to being in the same league as those guys.

“It's crazy, I guess, looking back now at where I am now and all the things I expect of myself now, and back then it seemed so far. All of this that I'm doing right now just seemed impossible.”

In a way, Tiafoe’s rise was not all that likely, either. The story has been told plenty — growing up in Maryland, Tiafoe spent much of his time at the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, where his father was a janitor. He’d wander the facility as a young boy, watching players train while trying to understand their coach’s tips, then going to hit against the wall daily to try to learn the sport.

And now, Tiafoe is someone who other kids are looking up to. The 20-year-old became the youngest American ATP World Tour champion in more than a decade earlier this year at the Delray Beach Open.

Tiafoe’s coach, Ginepri, has been in his shoes, and in a sense, has been where his charge wants to be, climbing as high as No. 15 in the ATP Rankings and lifting three tour-level titles.

“It kind of comes back full circle in a way. I try to coach Frances with a lot of experiences from when I played, the do’s and the don’ts. But it’s just been a lot of fun working with him,” Ginepri said. “He comes every day with a smile on his face and works pretty hard, so he’s been improving. It’s been a great year for him. He’s the second-youngest after Andy [Roddick] to win his first title, in Delray. So it’s a good shadow to follow. He’s got a big upside career in front of him if he keeps putting in the work.”

And Ginepri also knows what it feels like to be moving towards the top of the game with other compatriots. Roddick finished that 2003 season World No. 1, and Fish would eventually reach the Top 10, too. They pushed each other to greater heights.

“Frances kind of pulled out in front of Taylor a little bit this year, but Taylor’s right behind,” Ginepri said of the pair, as the friends are now separated by just seven spots. “He’s had some injuries, some setbacks, but his game’s just as good as Frances’ so they’re going to be neck and neck and hopefully we’ll get a few more Americans up there.”

Last year, for instance, Jared Donaldson qualified for the Next Gen ATP Finals. There are currently eight Americans 23 and under inside the Top 200 of the ATP Rankings. And they’re all pushing each other forward.

And it hasn’t always been easy. Fritz, currently at a career-best World No. 47, climbed as high as No. 53 in 2016, when he was named the ATP Star of Tomorrow presented by Emirates. Injuries then slowed his progress and forced him outside the Top 100 before building back up again.

Fritz’s coach, David Nainkin, says that inevitably, friends know how one another is performing. And when one does well, the other sees that.

“It’s great to see Frances break out and win an [ATP World Tour] 250 in Delray,” Nainkin said. “They’re definitely great friends, but great rivals. They want to see each other do better, which will certainly push them.”

While Tiafoe is in Group A and Fritz is in Group B in Milan, both still have opportunities to reach the semi-finals, as they each hold a 1-1 record in round-robin play. And while the Americans hope to fly their flag high the rest of the week at the Fiera Milano, they know that there is still more to come for them in the future.

“Hopefully me and Taylor don’t get complacent,” Tiafoe said. “I think there’s way more me and him can do. I’m going to be pushing him.”

https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/fr ... -americans

[Lleyton]

[Lleyton]

2018 w liczbach:

Ranking: 49
Bilans meczów: 23-20
Tytuły: 0
Finały: 0
Zarobki: $832,246

[Lleyton]

Taylor Fritz (World No. 49)

Spoiler:

Fritz cracked the Top 50 of the ATP Rankings for the first time this October, but he is not a new face in the tennis world. In February 2016, in just his third tour-level event, Fritz became the youngest American to reach a championship match on the ATP Tour since Michael Chang in 1988. John Isner was the quickest American to reach his maiden final, doing so at his second tour-level event, at Washington, D.C., in 2007.

While Fritz holds just a 1-7 record against opponents inside the world's Top 10, the American has proven he is capable of competing against the very best in the sport. Fritz has not lost in straight sets against anyone inside the Top 10 in his past six clashes against the elite group, pushing Roger Federer to three sets on grass as an 18-year-old, and extending this year’s Nitto ATP Finals champion, Alexander Zverev, to five sets at Wimbledon just six months ago.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/fritz-r ... -graduates

[Damian]

[arti]

Taylor Fritz's Secret Weapon: His Mind

Spoiler:

It’s no secret that Taylor Fritz is talented. The American was once the world’s No. 1 junior, winning the 2015 US Open Boys’ Singles title with the loss of just one set. And then in February 2016, Fritz reached the Memphis Open final at just 18 years old, becoming the youngest American to make a tour-level championship match since 17-year-old Michael Chang triumphed at Wembley 29 years ago.

But at the 2018 Next Gen ATP Finals, the world got to see the American from a new perspective thanks to one of the many innovations at the 21-and-under event in Milan. In a way, the allowance of post-set coaching in between sets revealed Fritz’s secret weapon: his mind.

After each set, Fritz put on his headset to speak with coach David Nainkin. You might have expected Nainkin to have the first word, instructing his charge. But the 21-year-old Fritz nearly always took the initiative. Fritz would start breaking down the patterns of play in the match and express what he needed to improve in the next set. While in-match coaching is not allowed elsewhere on the ATP Tour, including this week at the Brisbane International, where Fritz is into the second round, the week in Milan provided a window into the mind of one of the sport’s brightest young talents.



“He has a very good analytical tennis brain, so I like to hear him out, hear his thoughts and I’ll give him my opinions so he can hear that,” Nainkin said in Milan. “This is the way he thinks on the changeover. What happens here, he just gets to verbalise it. But for sure whatever he’s saying to me on the changeover now, he’s thinking at other events. On the changeover, he’s trying to problem solve, he’s trying to figure out his opponent. He’s trying different patterns and he’s trying to see what works.”

Nainkin has worked with plenty of talented players over the years, including former Wayne Ferreira and Mardy Fish to Sam Querrey and WTA star Sloane Stephens. Fritz, even when compared to those four, has stood out to Nainkin with his constant focus on the details.

“It’s pretty engaging as a coach from when I started with him when he was 17, for him to be that outspoken and analytical. It’s great for a coach to hear a player have thoughts about their game,” Nainkin said. “Sometimes maybe he’s a little outspoken. But I’d rather have that than someone not being switched on at all, so I really enjoy it.”

At one point in his young career, though, Fritz’s mind betrayed him. Toward the end of 2016, Fritz suffered a knee injury.

Instead of taking time off to heal, the American wanted to capitalise on the momentum of his early-season breakthrough, continuing to play despite not being fully fit to do so. That created a domino effect that saw him spend much of 2017 outside the Top 100 of the ATP Rankings.



“I learned that lesson pretty quickly, that I’m not going to be able to perform if I’m not fully healthy. And so I started losing a lot and I didn’t get any off-season before the 2017 season because I was rehabbing my knee,” Fritz said. “I think I just kind of struggled to find my form again in 2017 because of the injury and the fact that I didn’t get any time to practise and improve my game.”

But Fritz bounced back in a major way in 2018, reaching nine quarter-finals at all levels, cracking the Top 50 for the first time on 29 October, and debuting in Milan.

Fritz, however, knows that there is plenty of room to grow. At media day at the Next Gen ATP Finals,, after Australian Alex de Minaur answered the same question, a reporter asked Fritz what he needs to work on to continue improving.

“I need to work on getting faster and moving better, so unlike Alex I can do more movement,” Fritz joked.

Fritz was using humour, but you can be certain that he will always be thinking of ways to improve.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/fritz-preview-2019

[Lucas]

While one American lost, 2018 Next Gen ATP Finals qualifier Taylor Fritz moved on. Fritz came back from a set down to beat Marius Copil 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 38 minutes. The 21-year-old won all 18 of his first-serve points to advance, earning a match-up against top seed John Isner. The World No. 9 has won both of his FedEx ATP Head2Head meetings against Fritz without dropping a set.

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[Lleyton]

Clutch Fritz Outdoes Isner In Auckland

Spoiler:

21-year-old reaches first QF of 2019

American Taylor Fritz is No. 50 in the ATP Rankings, but when it comes to playing his best in tie-breaks, he's Top 5.

The 21-year-old exhibited his big-point prowess again on Wednesday, upsetting top seed and No. 10 John Isner 7-6(3), 7-6(5) at the ASB Classic for his second Top 10 win.

“I like to think that one of the strengths of my game is playing under pressure and playing the big moments well. More often than not, the matches I lose, that's where I get let down. So I'm happy to start the year... playing well under pressure and handling those big moments well,” Fritz said.

You May Also Like: Taylor Fritz's Secret Weapon: His Mind

The 2018 Next Gen ATP Finals qualifier was 0-2 against Isner in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series and had won none of their five sets. But Fritz didn't let that or Isner's rising ace count – 26 for the match – bother him. He played calm and clean in the tie-breaks, converting his second match point when Isner lifted a backhand long.

“John's beaten me twice before... I really wanted to get the win on him. I knew I could. We had a lot of close points, and it just feels really good to get through that,” he said.

Fritz won 70 per cent (21-9) of the tie-breaks he played in 2018, third on the ATP Tour, according to the FedEx ATP Performance Zone, behind only reigning Nitto ATP Finals champion Alexander Zverev (74%, 17-6) and Brisbane International champion Kei Nishikori (77%, 17-5).

Fritz will next face Brit wild card Cameron Norrie, who beat Portugal's Joao Sousa 7-6(5), 6-4. Norrie, who grew up in Auckland, enjoyed plenty of support from the crowd.

Fritz's countryman Tennys Sandgren also reached the quarter-finals, upsetting third seed Marco Cecchinato of Italy 6-3, 6-3. Sandgren will next meet Argentina's Leonardo Mayer, who saved five of six break points and beat Italian Matteo Berrettini 5-7, 7-6(5), 6-3.

Second seed Fabio Fognini picked up where he left off on hard courts, beating Germany's Peter Gojowczyk 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(5). Fognini won his maiden hard court title last year in Los Cabos. He will face Philipp Kohlschreiber for a spot in the semi-finals. The German dismissed #NextGenATP Frenchman Ugo Humbert 6-4, 6-4.

Four-time champion David Ferrer had to retire after only two games (1-1) against Pablo Carreno Busta, who will meet New Zealand wild card Rubin Statham or German Jan-Lennard Struff.

Marach/Pavic Reach Semi-finals
Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic's quest for a second straight title in Auckland continued on Wednesday, as the top seeds beat Henri Kontinen and Frederik Nielsen 6-3, 7-6(4). Marach and Pavic reached the semi-finals after 77 minutes, saving five of six break points en route to victory.

The Austrian-Croatian pairing will meet Ben McLachlan and Jan-Lennard Struff or Brisbane champions Marcus Daniell and Wesley Koolhof for a place in the final. Daniell and Koolhof defeated Philipp Oswald and Tim Puetz 6-4, 7-6(1) to reach the quarter-finals.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/fritz-u ... -wednesday

[DUN I LOVE]

Taylorek jest teraz 5-10 w szlemach (po pokonaniu Camerona Norrie w I rundzie AO19).

[Damian]

Pierwszy raz w III rundzie AO #AO19

Taylor Fritz (USA) d. [30] Gael Monfils (FRA) 6-3 6-7(8) 7-6(6) 7-6(5) Statystyki meczu

[arti]

[arti]

Who Took The Keys? Fritz Investigates

Spoiler:

Taylor Fritz may have entered the third round at the Australian Open on Wednesday, but the young American recently found it much trickier to find his way into something much simpler in Melbourne; his Airbnb.

The 21-year-old American, who beat Gael Monfils in four sets to reach the third round, was locked out of the accomodation he is sharing with Mackenzie MacDonald after a set of house keys mysteriously went missing.

"I was the last person to leave the house," said Fritz. "I know for a fact that the keys were on the table, right by the door... [Mackenzie] called me and said, 'Hey, the keys are there, make sure to take them.'

"The thing is, I can't remember if I took them or not. I just remember seeing them there."

It wasn't until MacDonald asked Fritz for the keys that the problem became apparent to both men, ahead of their second-round matches at Melbourne Park.

"He asked me for the keys yesterday when he was trying to leave and I said I didn't have them [and that] I think I locked them in the house," said Fritz.

"So we called the guy out and he gets there 10 minutes before us. We pull up, he is there and lets us in. The keys aren't where I saw them and I know I didn't take them anywhere in the house, so that means I would have taken them and lost them during the day."

After regaining entry to their temporary home, the issue continued to bother Fritz, as the World No. 50 turned detective around the grounds of the Australian Open in search of the keys.

"I have checked everywhere, it has been bothering me all day," said Fritz. "I checked the physio room, I checked the locker room, lost and found and called transportation and had them check the car. I don't think I lost the keys, I think someone is finessing us a little bit."

But that theory was soon put to bed, with Fritz informing his 17,100 Twitter followers that he had located the keys on Thursday.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/fritz-m ... alian-open

[Damian]

Federer will next meet American Taylor Fritz for a place in the fourth round. Fritz, who works with Federer's former coach Paul Annacone, battled past Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-7(8), 7-6(6), 7-6(5). The 21-year-old saved 12 of 13 break points throughout the second-round clash to defeat the 30th seed in three hours and 24 minutes.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/federer ... -wednesday

[DUN I LOVE]

Wyrównał swój najlepszy wynik w szlemie Taylor - drugi szlem z rzędu robi co najmniej 3. rundą.

[Damian]

Taylor najlepszy w Newport Beach. 5. tytuł CH w karierze, będzie rekordowy ranking w poniedziałek, czyli pierwszy raz w TOP 40.

[DUN I LOVE]

Czołówka amerykańskich chalków, jak pisał Mario.

Brawo.

[Damian]

28.01.2019

Najwyższy ranking w karierze: 40