Why Taylor Fritz Is American Men's Tennis' Best Hope in the New Generation
American men’s tennis is in the midst of a decade-long (and counting) drought, the search for the next Pete Sampras or Andre Agassi proving far more laborious than anyone could’ve imagined.
With the 13-year anniversary of Andy Roddick’s 2003 U.S. Open championship drawing near, it’s a stark reminder of just how much time has passed since an American male last won a Grand Slam title. An entire generation of players have come and gone in that period. Yet the U.S. is stuck in motion, still desperately trying to produce its next legitimate hope.
Roddick looked ready to take the mantle from Sampras and Agassi, but he never recaptured the magic from that one special summer. Not possessing a versatile enough game to truly contend with the likes of Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal, Roddick proved a (talented) one-hit wonder.
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His last great hurrah was a run to the 2009 Wimbledon final, which, coincidentally, is the last time a U.S. male even reached a major semifinal. The pressure to end that slump is one that weighs heavily on a country with such a rich tennis tradition.
So will anyone reignite the torch in the near future?
The good news: USTA development programs are putting together a new batch of promising teenagers. They include Tommy Paul, Frances Tiafoe, Jared Donaldson, Stefan Kozlov and Reilly Opelka. But the one to keep the closest watch on is 18-year-old Taylor Fritz.
Born and raised in Rancho Santa Fe, California, Fritz is the son of two former professional players. His mother Kathy was even briefly ranked No. 10 during the 1977 season. Standing 6'4", he's a prospect with a tennis-infused bloodline and an imposing stature.
A self-professed Sampras fan, Fritz uses a powerful game just like his idol. Besides a monster first serve, he's strong from both wings. Cross-court forehands and backhands from Fritz can be quite lethal, as more opponents are starting to learn.
After practicing with Fritz last summer, an impressed Roger Federer told USA Today's Nick McCarvel: "He hits a great ball. He's got potential to become way better because he still has to grow into his own body, because he's a big guy, you know. I predict a good future for him."
Fritz used those weapons in 2015 to finish runner-up in the French Open junior final and win the U.S. Open junior title, both results coming against fellow American hopeful Paul. Because of his success in New York, Fritz decided to officially turn pro.
And he hasn't looked back.
Since October, Fritz has rolled through the ATP Challenger circuit, conquering tournaments in Sacramento, California, Fairfield, California, and Happy Valley, Australia. With the help of those wins, Fritz eventually qualified for this year's Australian Open. He'd go the distance with Jack Sock in his Grand Slam debut, falling despite a spirited effort.
Turns out he was only getting warmed up. At last week's Memphis Open, Fritz stormed to the championship match, becoming the youngest U.S. male finalist since Michael Chang in 1989 in just his third ATP event.
Upsetting countryman Steve Johnson in the second round, Fritz then scored victories over Benjamin Becker and Ricardas Berankis to book a spot in the final against Kei Nishikori. He raced out to a quick 3-1 lead over the three-time defending champion, but Nishikori steadied himself for a hard-fought 6-4, 6-4 win.
Even with the loss, Fritz rose 43 spots in the rankings for a new career-high mark of No. 102. To put his rapid ascent into even more perspective, he sat at No. 1,151 last January.
It's a testament to his blossoming talent that he's been able to come so far in such a short period of time. Analyzing Fritz's game, Tennis.com's Steve Tignor wrote:
"Unlike most male pros, Fritz doesn’t finish many points by backpedaling across the court and crushing an inside-out forehand. His best combination is a sharp crosscourt forehand, followed by an even sharper crosscourt backhand in the other direction. Where Sampras controlled points at the net, Fritz controls them from the middle of the baseline. Again, though, Fritz is more than a ball basher. There’s a controlled sense of aggression to his attack, he has terrific hands when he’s on the run, and he seems to have mastered the topspin lob, a shot that has virtually disappeared from the game.
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That set of skills sets Fritz apart from his peers. Although he'll probably become more of a menace on grass and faster hard courts, his appearance in the French Open junior final last year shows he can adapt to any surface, even clay.
Fritz will need to develop his overall arsenal of shots, but he'll get there with more time and the right team around him. The area where he really stands to improve is in the fitness department.
Like any teenager, Fritz is still growing into his body. While he fills out his frame (especially in his legs) and grinds in the gym, Fritz can develop the stamina and toughness to match his power. He talked about wanting to hone his transition game in an interview with ESPN's Matt Wilansky, and that should happen as his movement gets better.
His biggest overall challenge right now is the natural maturation process. No, Fritz isn't magically ready to win a Grand Slam. He's very much a work in progress—take this week's first-round loss in Delray Beach, Florida, as evidence. There are going to be plenty of growing pains and learning experiences for him in the coming years while acclimating to the highest level.
In a sport that often proves more mentally challenging than physically, Fritz seems to have the requisite wisdom, patience and drive to succeed and beat the odds. Now comes the waiting game.
With so many pieces in place, Fritz is poised to lead his generation and provide a new hope for U.S. men's tennis.
All statistics are courtesy of ATPWorldTour.com unless otherwise noted.
Joe Kennard is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report.
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