He’s been a catwalk model at New York Fashion Week, graced the covers of glitzy magazines and is a standout star on the Netflix series Break Point.
With all the opportunities that seemingly exist for Taylor Fritz off the court, it’s easy to imagine that tennis itself comes second for the 26-year-old American.
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But beyond the glamour, Fritz approaches his playing life with unmistakable grit and determination. There’s no better demonstration than in his career-best Australian Open campaign.
Fritz launched his 2024 tournament with a five-set battle over Facundo Diaz Acosta, taking more than four hours to dismantle the 90th-ranked Argentine in the first round. Wins over Hugo Gaston and Fabian Marozsan followed, before Fritz’s breakthrough victory over No.7 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the fourth round.
Recording a first win over a top-10 opponent at a Grand Slam, Fritz also progressed to a first quarterfinal in Melbourne.
“I told you, I told you!” the American screamed at his team as he celebrated his progress over Tsitsipas, who was runner-up to Novak Djokovic at AO 2023.
“I felt that as soon as I knew that I was going to be playing Stef in this match, I don't know, I think the styles match up well for me,” Fritz later expanded. “I just felt very relaxed and confident … I had a feeling I was going to play well.”
Self-belief has been steadily growing for the Californian, who was also a quarterfinalist at Wimbledon in 2022 and the US Open last year. He defeated Rafael Nadal to win the biggest of his six ATP titles at Indian Wells in 2022.
He discussed his evolution as a player ahead of his eighth Melbourne Park campaign.
“The biggest change for me in jumping up to the next level, which I feel like I did towards the end of 2021, [is that] my forehand has been a lot more reliable, has been a lot bigger of a weapon,” said Fritz.
“And I think that I've started returning serve a lot better as well, maybe moving a little bit better, playing a little better defence. I think those three things have made a big difference in my game.”
The steady process of improvement adds fuel to a dream that the American has held for virtually his entire life.
Tennis flows through the family bloodlines for Fritz, with his mother, Kathy May, a former top-10 player and his father, Guy, a long-time coach. The youngest of three brothers, Fritz first picked up a racquet at age two.
Many of the milestones that Fritz coveted as a child are proudly achieved.
“Just in general, being a professional tennis player, playing at the biggest tournaments, playing against people that I grew up watching win Slams and, you know, playing against some of the greatest players of all time. I think it's amazing,” Fritz said of the ambitions that formed as he fine-tuned his talent as a junior.
“Obviously, if I could look back and know I was going to do all that stuff when I was a kid, it'd be incredible.”
And yet there’s still more to achieve as Fritz prepares to meet Djokovic in the AO 2024 quarterfinals. “There’s obviously a lot more that I want to do and a lot bigger dreams,” he said.
While he is yet to claim a win over the 10-time Australian Open champion in eight career meetings, Fritz has been working hard towards another career breakthrough and has been training at Melbourne Park since early January.
“I feel like I'm hitting every shot well and the fitness is also there. I've had lots of time to put in the work,” he said.
“And, you know, I think the last piece is just feeling 100 per cent and knowing that I can go as hard as I want and just all out and know that my body is going to allow it.
“So, I think that's just the biggest thing for me … as far as my game goes, everything feels really good.”