Taylor Fritz continues to impress the professional tennis world, claiming another ATP Challenger Tour title by winning the $75,000 Happy Valley tournament in Australia this past weekend. Fritz defeated tour veteran Dudi Sela 7-6, 6-2 in the final. It was Fritz’s fourth Challenger Tour final since turning pro in the early fall of 2015 and his 3rd title in those four tries. The 18-year-old American continues to show why he may be the brightest hope in the crowded and talented pool of young American teens on the ATP tour.
Fritz’s game has long been applauded for its completeness. A big server with good movement, Fritz is capable of generating power off his forehand while also changing direction off his backhand side easily. He has a sneaky good slice, and he continually shows that he isn’t afraid to move forward into the court and end the point at the net. Along with this complete game, Fritz has shown the ability to control his emotions in big moments and be a fierce competitor. In 2015 Fritz used his steely disposition to beat crafty tour veterans like Dudi Sela, Tim Smyzcek, Thiemo De Bakker, and Dustin Brown. Fritz, like any young player, will sometimes berate himself over a double fault or error, but typically recovers quickly emotionally, and thus far has avoided any “viral” moments (no ripping of shirts, violent racquet smashes, or trash talk to umpires, etc.), unlike some of the other American teenagers on tour. And although many previously hyped American hopefuls have struggled with the pressure and speculation about their game, Fritz also has not let the public pressure influence his choices or the pressure crack his game plan. Fritz has steadily climbed the ladder and gained confidence using the Futures and Challenger circuits, taking few main draw wild cards, instead choosing to earn his place on tour the hard way, showing a grit and willingness to do the dirty work to find his place in the upper echelon of the tour.
Fritz grew up the son of two former professional tour players (his mom, Kathy May Fritz, was a top 10 player) and first picked up a racquet at the age of 2. In 2015, Fritz reached the final of the French Open Juniors (losing to fellow American Tommy Paul) and then won the Junior US Open (defeating Paul in the final). He finished the year the top ranked junior–the first American to do so since Donald Young in 2005.
Although junior success is never a guarantee of pro fame, Fritz’s successful transition to the Challenger tour is encouraging. Ranked in the high 600s just 6 months ago, Fritz finds himself starting the 2016 season at #174 and will slide up 20 spots to #154 with last week’s Challenger totle. Beyond his ranking there are other less tangible–but important–signs of his promise. Roger Federer has long used hitting partners as a means to show the world which juniors earn his respect and confidence; Fritz was a selected partner for Federer to hit with this past Wimbledon. The Hall of Famer complimented both the Californian’s groundstrokes and his serve.
The next step for Fritz will be to translate his talented game and cCallenger success into main draw qualifying and tour success. Fritz earned his first main draw win last season at Nottingham with a win over Pablo Carreno Busta, but beyond that didn’t have much opportunity to find his place on the bigger stage. 2016 Australian Open qualifying will be prove an important test for Fritz as he seeks to find points, recognition, and success to help establish the tone of his 2016.
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