Taylor Fritz recalls how he felt after becoming one of the ATP’s top 10 players for the very first time.
The 26-year-old is currently ranked at number seven following a run to his first Grand Slam final at the US Open.
He finally progressed beyond the quarter-finals and edged past compatriot Frances Tiafoe in the semi-finals to reach the championship match.
Though Jannik Sinner outclassed Fritz in 3-6, 4-6, 5-7 in the US Open final, the run certainly did Fritz plenty of good and gave him momentum he can build on heading the latter portion of the season and beyond.
What did Taylor Fritz say about becoming a top 10 player for the first time?
Following the US Open, Taylor Fritz re–entered the top 10 for the first time since February.
He first reached the coveted spots in the ATP Tour rankings in October 2022, a year in which he claimed his first Masters 1000 title and reached the last four at the ATP Finals.
Two years on from achieving that milestone, Fritz has reflected on how he felt and what the moment meant for his career.
“Breaking into the top 10 I feel is a dream for every tennis player, it’s a big milestone,” the US Open runner-up told HEAD Tennis’ YouTube channel.
“Obviously everyone wants to be number one in the world or top five in the world, but along the way you know top 10 is a massive milestone and achievement.
“I knew that I was so close and I was really, really chasing it and I was super happy in that moment. Whatever happens it’s like every time you reach a milestone like that no one can ever take that away from you, you’ll always have that.”
What did Taylor Fritz say about becoming the American number one?
Not only is Fritz back in the top 10, he is also America’s top-ranked male tennis player. He was in a battle for most of this year with compatriots Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul, with small point margins separating them.
But Fritz making the US Open finals has opened a larger gap between him and his fellow Americans in the ATP rankings.
During the HEAD Tennis interview Fritz recalled the time he first became the American number one in 2021 and how it enhanced his game.
“2021 wasn’t a very good year until the end of the year when I started really picking it up and I felt like the game improved,” Fritz said. “Then at the end of the year I was able to become the number one American and that was obviously a huge honour.
“It was something you know I always dreamed of as a kid and yeah I feel like I really started picking up steam at the end of 2021 and that’s when I really started to feel confident in my game and feel like I could take it a lot further.”
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