Taylor Fritz

[Art]

[Damian]

[Art]

[Nowitzki]

Taylor Fritz this season is 9-12 against players 23 or younger compared to 40-9 against players 24 or older

http://www.tennisabstract.com/cgi-bin/p ... aylorFritz

[Damian]

Fritz: Breaking new ground to earn Turin return

Spoiler:

Fritz Forges Unforgettable Year
by Grant Thompson

In the countdown to the Nitto ATP Finals (10-17 November), our new series, 'Towards Turin', will showcase qualified players and those in contention, and update fans on the fierce battle between the sport's best players to lock up one of the eight spots to the season finale.

Taylor Fritz has long established himself as a leading light on the ATP Tour, but the American nonetheless continues to hit new milestones. His 2024 season was no exception.

Fritz added two titles to his trophy case this year, bringing his career total to eight. Having also notched a personal-best 17 match wins at Grand Slam events (including reaching his first major final appearance at the US Open), Fritz is fifth on 4,300 points in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin. He will this year make his second appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals, following his 2022 debut. The four other players that have already sealed their place in Turin are Jannik Sinner, who has already earned ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev.


Among those still in contention to join Fritz & co. in Turin is record seven-time Nitto ATP Finals champion Novak Djokovic, who sits behind Fritz in sixth in the Live Race on 3,910 points. The 2022 Turin finalist Casper Ruud (3,855 points) and Andrey Rublev (3,720 points) currently occupy the final two qualification spots, but Alex de Minaur (3,645 points), Grigor Dimitrov (3,240 points), Stefanos Tsitsipas (3,165 points), Holger Rune (2,725 points) and Jack Draper (2,635 points) still have a shot at overtaking them as the Live Race enters its final 10 days.

So how did Fritz become the first American singles player to qualify multiple times for the Nitto ATP Finals since Andy Roddick made his sixth and final appearance in 2010? ATPTour.com breaks down the key steps on Fritz's 2024 journey to Turin.


FRITZ’S 2024 STORY: BREAKING BARRIERS
Fritz matched or surpassed his career-best results at each of the four majors in 2024, highlighted by his historic final appearance at the US Open. The 27-year-old is on pace to exceed his personal-best win total in a single season of 53.

“For sure I have taken another step this year,” Fritz told ATPTour.com. “I’m fifth in the Race right now and hoping to finish the year there. Regardless of how the rest of the year goes, it’s going to be my highest ranking finish. Obviously, a lot of milestones, like the US Open final.

“I feel like I’m playing a lot better, and it’s become clear to me as well the things that I need to improve on to take even another step, but it’s been my best year [yet].”

INSIGHTS: THE FRITZ FORMULA
Quality over quantity is the name of the game for Fritz. The American looks to play aggressive, first-strike tennis and keep opponents under pressure with deep, powerful groundstrokes.

Fritz's most potent weapon — his serve — makes him a tough opponent to break, but what may surprise fans is that his return is also ranked in the Top 10 in Shot Quality average for 2024 (as of 21 October), according to metrics provided by Tennis Data Innovations.

In baseline rallies, Fritz utilises an extreme grip on his forehand and leans on that wing to dictate play. It is heavy, reliable and always a threat for a screeching winner.

If opponents attack Fritz's backhand corner, they will not find much relief. Though Fritz's forehand shot quality (7.91) tops his backhand shot quality (7.49), his double-hander is ranked higher amongst his ATP Tour peers.


Taylor Fritz
Credit: Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour




Taylor Fritz
THREE PEAK PERFORMANCES
1) Fritz's Fuel To His First Major Final
If the pressure was at an all-time high for Fritz during his dream US Open run, his confidence was too. The American's standout tournament was ignited by statement wins over some top talents. Entering the season, Fritz had yet to notch a Top 10 win at a Slam, but in New York, where he downed former semi-finalist Matteo Berrettini in a tough second round, Fritz took down not one but two Top 10 stars — Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev — en route to the final.

“I think I played a really good match in the second round against Matteo,” said Fritz. “I think with Casper, I was down a set and struggling a bit, so winning that one was big for me. I think just seeing the path, seeing how the draw was working out… Obviously there were tough matches in the draw, but nothing that I felt I couldn’t handle if I played well.”



Credit: Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour

2) Eastbourne Excellence
Hat-tricks on grass are usually reserved for the football pitch, but Fritz earned his own at the Rothesay International by claiming a third title at the ATP 250. The Eastbourne tournament has been a fixture on the ATP Tour calendar longer than Fritz has been alive, yet he became the first player in the event’s history to win three singles crowns (2019, 2022, 2024).



Credit: Glyn Kirk/AFP via Getty Images

3) 'Claylor' Convert
“That ain’t me… That’s Claylor,” Fritz wrote on social media after reaching his second ATP Masters 1000 semi-final on clay in Madrid. Fritz tallied a career-best 15 clay-court wins this season, with a final run in Munich marking his first title match on the surface. He also reached the Rome quarter-finals for the first time and the fourth round at Roland Garros, his best performance at the Paris major.



Credit: Peter Staples/ATP Tour

MILESTONE MOMENT
Nearby Broadway could not have scripted it any better: By reaching the championship match, Fritz ended a 15-year absence of American men in a Grand Slam final. And for it to come on home soil made it all the more sweet for Fritz. To get that chance of playing on Arthur Ashe Stadium on the final Sunday, Fritz first had to hold his nerve in one of the most memorable moments in recent American tennis history. He overhauled countryman Frances Tiafoe in a tense five-set semi-final.

“I think the [all-American semi-final] made it tougher,” reflected Fritz on his victory against Tiafoe. “That was one of the highest-pressure matches I’ve ever played. I would say I felt even more pressure in that match than I did in the final, just because I think both of us wanted it so bad. Both of us wanted to be the American to [reach the US Open final] so bad. That was a very nerve-wrecking match for sure.”

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[Nando]

[Barty]

[Damian]

How Fritz's 'big positive' could help him under Turin bright lights

Spoiler:

American reflects on standout season and group rivals
November 08, 2024
Taylor Fritz has tallied a 49-21 season record.
Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Taylor Fritz has tallied a 49-21 season record.
By ATP Staff
Taylor Fritz has produced fireworks throughout the 2024 season, and now, with the Nitto ATP Finals on the horizon, the American has his sights set on a grand finale.

Having already competed at the prestigious year-end event in 2022, Fritz will look to rely on lessons learned from that year's semi-final run as he aims to become champion of champions.

The 27-year-old’s consistently high level this year, no matter the surface, has proven that he is more than capable.

“If I want to be a top player, I feel like you have to be playing your best tennis at the biggest events, so that was a big positive,” Fritz said when reflecting on his 2024 season.

“I think what I did this year that was a big goal of mine was that I performed my best at the Slams. In previous years, I maybe had one good Slam result throughout the calendar year and then some not so good ones.”

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Fritz, the first American singles player to qualify multiple times for the Nitto ATP Finals since Andy Roddick, is placed in the Ilie Nastase Group alongside Jannik Sinner, Daniil Medvedev and Alex de Minaur.

The US Open finalist Fritz and 2020 Nitto ATP Finals champion Medvedev will begin singles action Sunday in Turin.

“It’s obviously different from any other tournament because you are guaranteed to play three matches. You can lose your first match and still get out of the group,” Fritz said. “You lose a match, you do everything after the match like you just won because you have to go be ready to play another one again, potentially the next day. It’s really cool in that aspect.

“Also, straightaway, first match, you are going to be playing a top player. You really have to be ready from the first one to go out and be playing at your best level.”

Fritz’s opening match against Medvedev will mark just their second Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting.

“Daniil is obviously very awkward [to play] because he slows down the speed of the match a lot with how he plays and how he hits the ball. He doesn’t play with a lot of spin or lift for you to work off of,” Fritz said. “You constantly are feeling like you have to lift and generate pace. He slows down the court a lot.”


The 27-year-old will get another crack at the local hero Sinner, who spoiled Fritz’s quest of winning his home major.

“He’s been so consistent,” Fritz said of Sinner. “I would say the most impressive thing is that he hasn’t played a bad match. He’s just been really solid all year. Super aggressive from the baseline, tough to get him on defence because a lot of his defence is playing big out of the corners, almos tplaying offence. He’s improved his serve so much, massive improvement. He’s become a very good server.”

Boasting a 49-21 season record, Fritz also spoke highly of De Minaur’s level this year, mentioning it was no surprise to see the Aussie qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time.

“I played Demon in the second match of this year [at the United Cup] and personally, I thought it was one of the highest levels of tennis that I’ve ever seen on the other side of the court,” Fritz concluded.

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[DUN I LOVE]

@Barty

[Barty]

Jełop-Fritz RIP.

[no-handed backhand]

Pewnie mógłby jeszcze tak długo. W przeciwieństwie do rozważań na temat tego, jak pokonać Djokovicia.

[Damian]

[Damian]

2) Ilie Nastase Group: Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur will compete in The Ilie Nastase Group alongside Sinner. The 2020 champ Medvedev is making his sixth consecutive appearance at the event, while Fritz reached the semis in 2022. Australian De Minaur, who has won two titles this year, is set for his debut. Alcaraz and Zverev have enjoyed a thrilling rivalry in 2024, with the Spaniard leading the German 2-1 in the pair's Lexus ATP Head2Head series this year. They are tied 5-5 overall.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/nitto-a ... ing-report

[Damian]

[Damian]

Fritz downs Medvedev in opening Nitto ATP Finals clash

Spoiler:

Fifth seed moves to 1-0 in Ilie Nastase Group
November 10, 2024
Taylor Fritz seals an opening group match victory at the 2024 Nitto ATP Finals.
Getty Images
Taylor Fritz seals an opening group match victory at the 2024 Nitto ATP Finals.
By Jerome Coombe
Taylor Fritz delivered a statement performance to kick-start his campaign at the Nitto ATP Finals.

The American surged to a 6-4, 6-3 victory over fourth seed Daniil Medvedev on Sunday to make a perfect start in his second appearance at the season finale. Fritz capitalised on an error-strewn opening set from Medvedev, during which he hit seven double faults, before pulling clear in the second.

After levelling the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series at 1-1, Fritz moved to 1-0 in the Ilie Nastase Group. The other contenders awaiting in the group stages are World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and Nitto ATP Finals debutant Alex de Minaur, who are set to clash on Saturday evening.

More to follow…

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[Damian]

[Damian]

[Damian]

[Barty]

[Barty]