How Taylor Fritz’s ‘massive optimistic’ might assist him underneath Turin vibrant lights | ATP Tour

Nitto ATP Finals

How Fritz’s ‘massive optimistic’ might assist him underneath Turin vibrant lights

American displays on standout season and group rivals

November 08, 2024

Taylor Fritz has produced fireworks all through 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 on the prestigious year-end occasion in 2022, Fritz will look to depend on classes discovered from that 12 months’s semi-final run as he goals to develop into champion of champions.

The 27-year-old’s persistently excessive stage this 12 months, regardless of the floor, has confirmed that he’s greater than succesful.

“If I need to be a prime participant, I really feel like it’s important to be taking part in your finest tennis on the largest occasions, in order that was a giant optimistic,” Fritz mentioned when reflecting on his 2024 season.

“I feel what I did this 12 months that was a giant objective of mine was that I carried out my finest on the Slams. In earlier years, I perhaps had one good Slam end result all through the calendar 12 months after which some not so good ones.”

Fritz, the primary American singles participant to qualify a number of occasions for the Nitto ATP Finals since Andy Roddick, is positioned within 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 start singles motion Sunday in Turin.

“It’s clearly totally different from another match since you are assured to play three matches. You possibly can lose your first match and nonetheless get out of the group,” Fritz mentioned. “You lose a match, you do every part after the match such as you simply received as a result of it’s important to go be able to play one other one once more, doubtlessly the subsequent day. It’s actually cool in that facet.

“Additionally, straightaway, first match, you’ll be taking part in a prime participant. You actually should be prepared from the primary one to exit and be taking part in at your finest stage.”

Fritz’s opening match in opposition to Medvedev will mark simply their second Lexus ATP Head2Head assembly.

“Daniil is clearly very awkward [to play] as a result of he slows down the pace of the match so much with how he performs and the way he hits the ball. He doesn’t play with a number of spin or raise so that you can work off of,” Fritz mentioned. “You continuously are feeling like it’s important to raise and generate tempo. He slows down the courtroom so much.”

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The 27-year-old will get one other crack on the native hero Sinner, who spoiled Fritz’s quest of profitable his dwelling main.

“He’s been so constant,” Fritz mentioned of Sinner. “I might say probably the most spectacular factor is that he hasn’t performed a foul match. He’s simply been actually strong all 12 months. Tremendous aggressive from the baseline, powerful to get him on defence as a result of a number of his defence is taking part in massive out of the corners, almos tplaying offence. He’s improved his serve a lot, large enchancment. He’s develop into an excellent server.”

Boasting a 49-21 season document, Fritz additionally spoke extremely of De Minaur’s stage this 12 months, mentioning it was no shock to see the Aussie qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for the primary time.

“I performed Demon within the second match of this 12 months [at the United Cup] and personally, I assumed it was one of many highest ranges of tennis that I’ve ever seen on the opposite facet of the courtroom,” Fritz concluded.