Taylor Made Fix For Men's Tennis On The Fritz!

stringertom

stringertom

Bionic Poster
You're #761 ranked, 17 years old and playing your first ATP match vs the #66 player in the world. Just win a few games and avoid embarrassment, right?

Hell, no! Serve a breadstick and close it in straights 6-1, 6-4! Nine aces, broken just once while destroying his opponent's 2nd serve (67% points won) for four breaks.

Hoping for suitable rest and fresh legs to play #14 Lopez in just hours after this maiden win!

Go Taylor! Swiftly!
 
mule250

mule250

Professional
Playing a pretty nice match vs Lopez really. Has some stuff to work on, but overall a very good showing.
 
Gonzalito17

Gonzalito17

Banned
Fritz looks like one of those old BW photos of the tennis history books, just on his appearance alone he looks like he will be holding major titles in the history books someday. Plus he clearly has a pro game, a lot of people have been hailing this kid as something special. He's already proving them right. Long way to go of course but off to a splendid start.
 
falstaff78

falstaff78

Hall of Fame
Ah! A fitting title for, dare we say it, A Great American Hope.

Shockingly good tournament for a 17 year old. And repaid the faith of organizers for giving wildcard, with interest!

Here's to a bright future!!!
 
falstaff78

falstaff78

Hall of Fame
Federer did a walking tour of Wimbledon on Periscope this morning, and in it he mentioned that he had a practice session with "an American junior Taylor Fritz"

Great omens!
 
Enga

Enga

Hall of Fame
Thanks for making this thread. I dont know how else I would ever have heard of him. He kinda looks like a young Sampras from certain angles, with that baggy shirt.

I like his forehand. Keeping it simple. Borg-like with the way he loops it, and uses the shoulder turn. Extreme grip.
 
stringertom

stringertom

Bionic Poster
Just saw a YouTube interview from Nottingham with THF...very composed demeanor and some serious megastar good looks! The skirts will be chasing this kid!

The YouTube clip linked me to a 30-minute compilation of his match with Lopez. He started bombing serves (135mph was the highest speed on an ace down the T, deuce court at 30-30). He backed that up with a flat ace wide on 40-30. Later on in the match, the speed wasn't quite as high and Lopez started working him side to side and eventually broke him after a long deuce game early in the second set. He fought off one BP with an inside-out FH that was sublime!

All in all, he's got some room to improve, particularly on movement...runs forward a bit too upright but his side-to-side footwork is better. He hit one Sampras-like running FH passing shot DTL.Volleys are a little stiff and the backhand volley is weaker...2-handed BH doesn't give him the necessary natural fluidity for that shot. I also didn't see any attempt to slice off either side.

There's some big upside for his future. If Rogi is working out with him then you know he's not gonna be a flash in the pan!
 
PeteD

PeteD

Legend
stringertom said:
Just saw a YouTube interview from Nottingham with THF...very composed demeanor and some serious megastar good looks! The skirts will be chasing this kid!

The YouTube clip linked me to a 30-minute compilation of his match with Lopez. He started bombing serves (135mph was the highest speed on an ace down the T, deuce court at 30-30). He backed that up with a flat ace wide on 40-30. Later on in the match, the speed wasn't quite as high and Lopez started working him side to side and eventually broke him after a long deuce game early in the second set. He fought off one BP with an inside-out FH that was sublime!

All in all, he's got some room to improve, particularly on movement...runs forward a bit too upright but his side-to-side footwork is better. He hit one Sampras-like running FH passing shot DTL.Volleys are a little stiff and the backhand volley is weaker...2-handed BH doesn't give him the necessary natural fluidity for that shot. I also didn't see any attempt to slice off either side.

There's some big upside for his future. If Rogi is working out with him then you know he's not gonna be a flash in the pan!
Click to expand...
Sounds promising! I heard it here first!
 
stringertom

stringertom

Bionic Poster
In the QFs vs Blaz Kavcic after an easy win over Smyczek, 6-2, 6-3. Faced two BPs early while his 1st serve was off but made corrections to end in the mid-60's % and lost only 11 points total in 9 service games.
 
Aesthetics_above_all_else

Aesthetics_above_all_else

Semi-Pro
Watched him for the first time today in his challenger match against Blaz Rola earlier and came away really impressed. He was well out of Rola's league.

Needs a lot of development in his game still but he's extremely impressive for a 17 year old that I'm hearing about for the first time
 
stringertom

stringertom

Bionic Poster
Can Taylor make it three Challenger titles in a row in Las Vegas this week? He opens his chase today vs veteran Colombian Nicolas Barrientos. A potential trifecta rematch with Dreddy Brown awaits in 2R.
 
Herios

Herios

Rookie
Yes, I am following him closely. He plays this week in a challenger Happy Valley in AUS.
He is seeded 8.
He won his first match against a low ranked Aussie WC, Marc Polmans 6-2, 6-2, however, his R2 was a struggle.
He played fellow American Alex. Sarkissian today. After winning first set 6-3, he had a brain fart in his second set TB losing it at zero!!!
He pulled it off in the end in the 3 set TB
Score 6-3, 6-7 (0), 7-6 (5). So this was a narrow escape. Onto the QF.

BTW. Tiafoe was also in this event, but got eliminated in R1 by Polansky.
 
Last edited:
Herios

Herios

Rookie
Herios said:
Yes, I am following him closely. He plays this week in a challenger Happy Valley in AUS.
He is seeded 8.
He won his first match against a low ranked Aussie WC, Marc Polmans 6-2, 6-2, however, his R2 was a struggle.
He played fellow American Alex. Sarkissian today. After winning first set 6-3, he had a brain fart ion his second set TB losing it at zero!!!
He pulled it off in the end in the 3 set TB
Score 6-3, 6-7 (0), 7-6 (5). So this was a narrow escape. Onto the QF.

BTW. Tiafoe was also in this event, but got eliminated in R1 by Polansky.
Click to expand...

Next, Taylor plays Alex. Bolt (AUS)
 
Last edited:
stringertom

stringertom

Bionic Poster
Herios said:
Yes, I am following him closely. He plays this week in a challenger Happy Valley in AUS.
He is seeded 8.
He won his first match against a low ranked Aussie WC, Marc Polmans 6-2, 6-2, however, his R2 was a struggle.
He played fellow American Alex. Sarkissian today. After winning first set 6-3, he had a brain fart ion his second set TB losing it at zero!!!
He pulled it off in the end in the 3 set TB
Score 6-3, 6-7 (0), 7-6 (5). So this was a narrow escape. Onto the QF.

BTW. Tiafoe was also in this event, but got eliminated in R1 by Polansky.
Click to expand...
Thanks! I was surprised he didn't try one of the three ATP qualifiers but DA into the Challenger in Oz is a good alternative for building confidence and earning points.
 
Herios

Herios

Rookie
stringertom said:
Thanks! I was surprised he didn't try one of the three ATP qualifiers but DA into the Challenger in Oz is a good alternative for building confidence and earning points.
Click to expand...
I think at this stage in his career, Fritz is served better if he plays in challengers and builds up his ranking there. He can gain faster points and get more matches thus experience under his belt.
Look at Kokkinakis and Zverev in comparison to Chung. Who moved up faster? Chung, who played mostly on the challenger tour rather than the other two.
Once he gets into the top 120-130, he can start getting into the ATP qualies. He will have plenty of time, no point to rush it.
 
stringertom

stringertom

Bionic Poster
Herios said:
I think at this stage in his career, Fritz is served better if he plays in challengers and builds up his ranking there. He can gain faster points and get more matches thus experience under his belt.
Look at Kokkinakis and Zverev in comparison to Chung. Who moved up faster? Chung, who played mostly on the challenger tour rather than the other two.
Once he gets into the top 120-130, he can start getting into the ATP qualies. He will have plenty of time, no point to rush it.
Click to expand...
Fritz's big successes in the fall were at the same Challenger tournaments Sam Querrey dominated the year before. Sam used those results to climb back into top 40, much like Chung did in '15. Also, it's wise to play draws filled with potential AO qualies opponents.

It's a shame Rubin vultured the WC spot in main draw AO based solely on his one Challenger win in Charlottesville but Taylor seems to be busy making lemonade out of that bowl of lemons.
 
Gytha

Gytha

Legend
wishing Taylor all the best for the AO qualies. Would love him to get through to the main draw and record his first GS main draw win!

according to livetennis schedule he is also booked for Maui challenger the week of 25th Jan.

(Hello, newbie here and official young gun obsessive - I'm excited to see the new generation come up!)
 
stringertom

stringertom

Bionic Poster
Gytha said:
wishing Taylor all the best for the AO qualies. Would love him to get through to the main draw and record his first GS main draw win!

according to livetennis schedule he is also booked for Maui challenger the week of 25th Jan.

(Hello, newbie here and official young gun obsessive - I'm excited to see the new generation come up!)
Click to expand...
The Official Teenage Talent Thread is a must read for you!
 
Gytha

Gytha

Legend
of course king felix.... now he is something. waiting patiently for him to ascend :p

I agree that Taylor seems to have that x-factor. Winning back to back challengers at that age is nothing to be sniffed at (though I do try and temper expectations - see Donald Young lol) but Taylor seems to have a good head on his shoulders and will hopefully transition to the main tour well.... who knows? I'm cheering him on all the way.
 
stringertom

stringertom

Bionic Poster
Gytha said:
of course king felix.... now he is something. waiting patiently for him to ascend :p

I agree that Taylor seems to have that x-factor. Winning back to back challengers at that age is nothing to be sniffed at (though I do try and temper expectations - see Donald Young lol) but Taylor seems to have a good head on his shoulders and will hopefully transition to the main tour well.... who knows? I'm cheering him on all the way.
Click to expand...
DY struggled mightily, even at Futures level, when he first tried mixing a pro tour schedule with playing slam and national junior tournaments. I saw this personally, having strung at a handful of tournaments he entered at ages 15 and 16. His breakout did come in the fall US Challenger series shortly after turning 17, quite similarly to THF. I think the big difference coming up for Taylor is he has more weapons and a calmer head, thus being a little less prone to the prolonged slumps Donald has suffered.
 
Gytha

Gytha

Legend
Thanks, interesting (I was very much only a casual tennis follower up until only a year ago so my knowledge a bit limited!) I do agree he seems to have a calm head and good attitude. Hoping he maintains that as he inevitably climbs in the rankings and comes up against the big guys :)
 
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