Taylor Fritz is in New York for the month, but, even in the throes of the 2024 US Open, the rising star is an embodiment of his SoCal upbringing: tan, floppy-haired, laid-back and level-headed, yet quietly, fiercely competitive. Born in San Diego to tennis titans – father Guy Fritz is a sought-after private coach and mother Kathy May played professionally – the younger Fritz was on the tennis court from the time he could walk. Literally: he had a tennis court in the backyard of his childhood home.
Fritz is currently slotted at No. 12 on the ATP Tour, making him the highest-ranked American man in the sport. As the tennis world continues to debate what many call the “next generation of tennis” – an evolving theory on the players poised to eventually fill the shoes of the Big Three (Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal) – Fritz, who is 26 and went pro nearly a decade ago, is being heralded as a potential successor.
With that prediction, naturally, comes pressure, but it’s all just noise to Fritz. “I don’t think about the pressure as much as I think about the opportunity,” he says. Indeed, 2024 has been a year of opportunity forFritz, having won a bronze in doubles alongside Tommy Paul at his first Olympics in Paris and notably reaching the quarterfinals of both the Australian Open and Wimbledon. Fritz and his girlfriend, the influencer Morgan Riddle, also partnered with Heineken to represent the brand’s non-alcoholic beer L0VE.L0VE.
Halfway through the US Open, Fritz discussed maintaining a calm mindset, making his Olympic debut and looking to improve his game with each passing day.
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What’s your mindset like in the weeks leading up to a Grand Slam and on competition day?
You try to have that similar mindset and calmness that you have going into every other tournament, but Grand Slams are just different. This is what you dream about as a kid, and there’s nothing bigger in our sport. As an American, the US Open is especially significant, and there’s an incredible buzz around the game and the city. You know that everyone’s watching, and I’m fortunate because I have a great team and family behind me.
How did your Olympic experience compare to competing in Grand Slam tournaments?
It was just amazing. That was my first time at the Olympics and it was really special to represent my country and spend time around the greatest athletes from around the world. It’s such a big stage, and you feel some of that same Grand Slam energy when you walk out onto the court. I’m so grateful to have been a part of it, so proud to have returned with a medal. It’s an experience I’ll remember forever.
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The last time an American man won the US Open was in 2003. Do you feel like that drought adds pressure for you to perform?
I think this is something we American men are asked a lot when we go into this tournament. I want to deliver because it’s the biggest tournament in the US. I don’t think about the pressure as much as I think about the opportunity. This is something that I continue to pour my all into getting ready for, and I feel good about where my game is at. I’m going to go out there and give my best.
Are there any older tennis players you’ve modeled your game on?
I’ve been fortunate to grow up in an era of some of the greatest players of all time, and even more lucky that I’ve had the chance to go up against most of them myself. I think as a competitor, you definitely look at pieces of the games of all the great players and try to emulate them to some point, but I’ve also learned that to be the best player I can be, I have to be me. Each day, I’m going out there trying to make the best of what I bring.
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What are your goals for the coming year beyond the US Open?
I like to keep my mind where my feet are, so the US Open is what I’m thinking about most. I hope to go on a good long run and play well. Obviously, each year my team and I think about what we want to accomplish, and a great US Open is always in those conversations.
Beyond that, I just want to continue to improve, and continue to play well. I’ve been working as hard as I possibly can, and the results of this year have been solid, but we’re always looking forward and we always want to get better.
