Nitto ATP Finals
How Fritz’s ‘massive constructive’ might assist him below Turin vibrant lights
American displays on standout season and group rivals
November 08, 2024
Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Taylor Fritz has tallied a 49-21 season document.
By ATP Employees
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 grow to be champion of champions.
The 27-year-old’s persistently excessive degree 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 you must be taking part in your greatest tennis on the largest occasions, in order that was an enormous constructive,” Fritz mentioned when reflecting on his 2024 season.
“I believe what I did this 12 months that was an enormous purpose of mine was that I carried out my greatest on the Slams. In earlier years, I possibly had one good Slam outcome all through the calendar 12 months after which some not so good ones.”
Fritz, the primary American singles participant to qualify a number of instances 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 every other event since you are assured to play three matches. You’ll be able to 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 you must go be able to play one other one once more, doubtlessly the subsequent day. It’s actually cool in that side.
“Additionally, straightaway, first match, you’re going to be taking part in a prime participant. You actually must be prepared from the primary one to exit and be taking part in at your greatest degree.”
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 velocity of the match lots with how he performs and the way he hits the ball. He doesn’t play with a number of spin or elevate so that you can work off of,” Fritz mentioned. “You continually are feeling like you must elevate and generate tempo. He slows down the courtroom lots.”
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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 residence main.
“He’s been so constant,” Fritz mentioned of Sinner. “I’d say essentially the most spectacular factor is that he hasn’t performed a nasty match. He’s simply been actually strong all 12 months. Tremendous aggressive from the baseline, robust 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, huge enchancment. He’s grow to be an excellent server.”
Boasting a 49-21 season document, Fritz additionally spoke extremely of De Minaur’s degree 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 believed it was one of many highest ranges of tennis that I’ve ever seen on the opposite facet of the courtroom,” Fritz concluded.
