#NextGen Diaries: Taylor Fritz Part I

How exciting to be kicking off the ATP’s new #NextGen diary series! Having had such an amazing start to the season, it’s going to be a challenge for me to tell you everything as so much has been happening. It’s been an absolute whirlwind of one thing after another. Thankfully, mostly good things!

Looking back at the past few months, I think it’s safe to say I have exceeded my expectations. I was ranked 140 at the start of the year and now I’m No. 67. I guess I should try to break it all down for you and start with the on-court stuff!

Part I

Memphis…

It all started in Memphis, where I played my first ATP tournament in the USA. For that reason it was really important to me, and I was excited to have the opportunity to compete. I knew it would be something I’d always remember, win or lose, and I hoped I could play to my potential and prove myself. 

It all happened so fast that week, winning four matches to make the final. It’s weird looking back and thinking, ‘Wow, that was actually the final.’ It’s such a big accomplishment for me and I’m hoping to be able to do it again moving forwards.

There was a lot of buzz after Memphis. With everything going on with the social media and interviews, it was a lot to take in. A while ago I was just so happy to have anyone from media talk to me, or interview me, or care. Now it’s become more about trying to find a healthy balance and make sure I don’t do too much or too little. It’s definitely something I’m getting used to and learning to handle better.

Delray Beach…

It was tough moving from Memphis to Delray because the conditions were so different. The first night I got to Delray, I couldn’t get a feel for the courts. It was a tough turnaround and that was definitely a lesson I learned the hard way – there’s going to be a lot of tough turnarounds when you have a good week in one tournament and have to rush over to the next.

Acapulco…(and Top 100!)

Cracking the Top 100 was always a possibility going into that week, so in Acapulco I felt like, ‘Don’t get your hopes up. It will happen.’ I had almost no points to defend up until after the US Open, so I felt pretty confident telling myself that at some point it’s going to happen this year. Just relax, play tennis and don’t worry about it. And that’s what I did. 

It was an amazing feeling when I found out I’d made it. Having dedicated most of my life to tennis, I felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. It’s a huge milestone and it felt so great to reach it. It definitely surprised me reaching the Top 100 at this young age. I didn’t think I’d be here so soon, but at the same time, now that I’m here, I want to stay here. I want to keep moving forward. I don’t want to take any steps back. 

Indian Wells…

Indian Wells is a special tournament for me. Growing up in San Diego, it was an event I went to a lot as a kid and it always provided plenty of inspiration. I’ve seen so many great players play there over the years and I always dreamed that one day I might be one of them. I put a lot of importance on that tournament and I was really excited to play main draw there for the first time. 

In the first round I drew my good friend, Frances Tiafoe. Frances had beaten me every time we played in juniors and that made me really want to get the win in that first round. I’d been doing well and had had a lot of really good results up to that point. I definitely felt that it was my time, and I wanted it bad, but looking back, I think I put a little bit too much pressure on myself.

It was tough losing that match. I took it a lot harder than I usually do because I felt my approach and attitude was all wrong. Luckily for me, Miami was right around the corner and I didn’t have too much time to dwell on it. 

Miami…

Miami was a good experience. When I went out to play David Ferrer in the second round, the crowd was electric. Being a pro and having a crowd cheer for you through the ups and downs of a match feels amazing. It’s the best feeling knowing that people are rooting for you. I felt so much love from the crowd out there and I loved that people were behind me and supporting me.

The proudest moment of the match was when I was down a break and he was serving at 5-4, 30/0 for the first set. It felt pretty good that I was able to come back, break him, and give myself a chance in that set. Coming from behind like that against such a good player isn’t an easy thing to do.

Playing a high level first set like that definitely gave me a lot of confidence, but after that match I found myself incredibly frustrated with how physically I wasn’t able to keep up in the second set. Obviously playing against Ferrer is the ultimate test of physicality, but I really thought, having dedicated myself a year ago to getting stronger in the gym, that I would have more of a chance to keep up with him. Again, it was a lesson learned and I have been able to move on from it, take the positives, make a note of what needs to be improved, and most of all use that disappointment I felt as fuel to continue to motivate me to improve and get stronger. I will not let that happen again.

Don’t miss Part II!

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