Taylor Fritz won the BOSS Open over the weekend, beating Alexander Zverev in straight sets to make a stunning start to the grass court season.
Fritz will be delighted to move on from the clay. He endured a rotten campaign on that surface and was sent packing by Daniel Altmaier in the first round of the French Open.
Fritz clearly isn’t a huge fan of clay. It’s the worst of the four Grand Slams for the American, and he’s never been beyond the fourth round in Paris.
Wimbledon is a different kettle of fish for Fritz, however, and he will be looking to build on a run to the quarter-final last year, where he lost to Lorenzo Musetti.
As the new world number four following his exploits at the BOSS Open, Fritz will fancy a strong run again, and it does feel as though his game is tailor-made for grass.
Jack Sock makes Taylor Fritz claim ahead of Wimbledon
It’s clear that Fritz is a top player on grass and former professional player Sock believes that he’s in the top three in the world.
Sock feels that he’s a genuine contender to win Wimbledon, and if he gets a bit of luck with the draw, who knows what could happen this year.
Sock said on the Nothing Major podcast: “I think he is up there for sure. I think he has shown that at Wimbledon already. Now winning this tournament. I think where he has maybe lacked in movement at times, and speed around the court, which I think is a pretty known fact. He can kind of hide it on the grass, because it is all the stutter steps, you take out the sliding for most guys and that sort of crazy movement.
“And then his ball striking is so good. His backhand stays so low on the grass, it penetrates through it. Guys have to lift it, and he’s able to dictate.
“His serve is massive. So I think he is top three. Maybe two as well.”
Fritz can be major player at Wimbledon
The 27-year-old is getting closer to a major title and reached the final of the US Open last year before losing to Jannik Sinner.
Grass does feel like the one surface where Fritz can trouble the big players in the sport, and the fact that he’s back in the top four makes him a major player at Wimbledon.
Fritz will avoid other members of the top four before the semi-finals, and the ball really is in his court at SW19 this year.
The player has the game, but perhaps he just needs a little bit more belief if he’s to get that first Grand Slam under his belt in the near future.
Fritz has the whole of the United States rooting for him and it would be great to see someone break the monopoly of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner winning the game’s big titles.
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