Taylor Fritz is one of the top candidates to close the gap on Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in 2026.
The American number one produced another solid season on the ATP Tour in 2025, claiming two tour-level titles and a points tally of 4,085.
Fritz also reached the semifinals of the Wimbledon championships and helped Team World reclaim the Laver Cup.
Like everyone else, however, he has plenty of work to do in order to catch Alcaraz and Sinner, who are ranked first and second in the world.
Ahead of his campaign at the United Cup, Fritz was asked if he thinks he is capable of defeating the ‘new two’ on the biggest stages this year.
Taylor Fritz says there is ‘no question’ that he will keep improving
In his pre-tournament press conference, he responded: “You know, I think over the last four years I feel like I’ve continued to improve a lot as a player and just a much better tennis player.
“I think the one thing that I’ve been noticing now is the body just has to be able to keep up with it.
Who will join Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in a new ‘big three’?
“It’s a lot of demand kind of playing so many matches that you do when you are, I guess, a higher-ranked player. There’s no question to me that I’m going to keep improving as a player.
“But I think the biggest thing ahead of me is I have to stay healthy, and my body has to feel strong like it did my first year in the top 10 in order for me to keep pushing it to the demands of the level of tennis that needs to, I guess, be played to keep up with the very top guys.”
Fritz trails in the head-to-heads with Alcaraz and Sinner, but has beaten both stars at tour-level events before.
Taylor Fritz discusses the US’ success at the United Cup
Fritz will aim to lead the US to a second consecutive United Cup title in Australia, and third overall.
His country has been the most successful at the tournament since its inaugural edition in 2023.
“I think it plays to the strengths of our country,” said Fritz of the competition. “I think we have such amazing women’s players. Coco’s first year was just last year, and obviously we won it beforehand, as well.
“The first year we had it with the top two men and top two women, I think that favours our country even more in that kind of format.
Which country do you think will win the United Cup?
“You know, it’s great to just feel like we have such a strong team all throughout. For me personally, I’ve always felt like I play a lot better in the team competitions.”
The US are in a tough group at this year’s United Cup with Argentina and Spain.
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