Taylor Fritz was the man of the hour at the Laver Cup as he led Team World to a third win in four years.
After losing his opening doubles match on day one, Fritz returned to the court to take on Carlos Alcaraz on day two.
Securing his first-ever win over a world number one, Fritz stunned Alcaraz in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, to give Team World a commanding 7-3 lead.
He then clinched the title on day three when he beat three-time major finalist Alexander Zverev, 6-3, 7-6.
Enjoying one of the best weekends of his career, things were working well for Fritz in San Francisco, although that’s not to say there isn’t still a lot of work left to do…
Simon Rea suggests two changes Taylor Fritz should make to his serve
During the latest episode of ‘The Tennis’ podcast, Nick Kyrgios’ former coach, Simon Rea, shared his thoughts on the American’s struggles against some of the best players on tour.
“We know he’s got that ability to be safe and be consistent, he called it pushing, and he can do that well, but up against the very best, it’s not been a recipe that’s enough to challenge them,” he said.
“The head-to-head against [Carlos] Alcaraz, 1-3, against [Jannik] Sinner, 1-4, including losing the last three in straight sets, and against [Novak] Djokovic, he’s 0-11.”
Taylor Fritz vs Carlos Alcaraz
| Match | Winner | Loser | Score |
| 2025 Laver Cup | Taylor Fritz | Carlos Alcaraz | 6-3, 6-2 |
| 2025 Wimbledon – SF | Carlos Alcaraz | Taylor Fritz | 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 |
| 2024 Laver Cup | Carlos Alcaraz | Taylor Fritz | 6-2, 7-5 |
| 2023 Miami Open – QF | Carlos Alcaraz | Taylor Fritz | 6-4, 6-2 |
Taylor Fritz vs Jannik Sinner
| Match | Winner | Loser | Score |
| 2024 ATP Finals – F | Jannik Sinner | Taylor Fritz | 6-4, 6-4 |
| 2024 ATP Finals – RR | Jannik Sinner | Taylor Fritz | 6-4, 6-4 |
| 2024 US Open – F | Jannik Sinner | Taylor Fritz | 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 |
| 2023 Indian Wells – QF | Jannik Sinner | Taylor Fritz | 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 |
| 2021 Indian Wells – 4R | Taylor Fritz | Jannik Sinner | 6-4, 6-3 |
Taylor Fritz vs Novak Djokovic
| Match | Winner | Loser | Score |
| 2025 US Open – QF | Novak Djokovic | Taylor Fritz | 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 |
| 2024 Shanghai Masters – SF | Novak Djokovic | Taylor Fritz | 6-4, 7-6 |
| 2024 Australian Open – QF | Novak Djokovic | Taylor Fritz | 7-6, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 |
| 2023 US Open – QF | Novak Djokovic | Taylor Fritz | 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 |
| 2023 Cincinnati Open – QF | Novak Djokovic | Taylor Fritz | 6-0, 6-4 |
| 2022 ATP Finals – SF | Novak Djokovic | Taylor Fritz | 7-6, 7-6 |
| 2021 Paris Masters – QF | Novak Djokovic | Taylor Fritz | 6-4, 6-3 |
| 2021 Italian Open – 2R | Novak Djokovic | Taylor Fritz | 6-3, 7-6 |
| 2021 Australian Open – 3R | Novak Djokovic | Taylor Fritz | 7-6, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-2 |
| 2019 Madrid Open – 2R | Novak Djokovic | Taylor Fritz | 6-4, 6-2 |
| 2019 Monte-Carlo Masters – 3R | Novak Djokovic | Taylor Fritz | 6-3, 6-0 |
Rea explained why Fritz has only managed to win two career matches against the trio in 20 attempts.
“I had a look at those matchups to try and dive a little bit deeper, what is going on when he plays those players. I think he’s caught a little bit between on his second serve,” he said.
“All of those players are able to impact on his second serve, I think Taylor would say if he were in the room with us, his athleticism and physicality and movement are not strengths of his game like it is with those other three. He wants to play on top of the point; he wants to be the one dishing out the punishment, which he alluded to.
“But on second serve, even at mid-160s, it’s not enough to threaten those guys, and they take control of the point. They get an opportunity on second serve, and where he comes unstuck against them, he’s very predictable with his location on second serve.
“Even at 165ks an hour on second serve, if they know where it’s coming, they will impact you. That is the price Taylor Fritz is paying.”
Rea believes Fritz can make two adjustments to his serve to better compete with Alcaraz, Sinner, and Djokovic.
“He either needs one of two things, or perhaps both. More variety on his second serve or much more speed, be prepared to serve a few more double faults, serve into the mid 170s,” he said.
“I think it is a frontier which he hasn’t yet explored, but he did at the Laver Cup, he’s up at 170ks an hour, and Carlos Alcaraz could not impact on Fritz’s second serve on those slow courts in San Francisco.
“He either has to mix up location a lot more, keep him off balance in that way, or bring a lot more heat, 165ks an hour isn’t enough, it won’t threaten those guys, it needs to be 175, even then it might not be.
“If I were coaching him, I’d be working on more variety on the second serve.”
Whether Fritz makes a change to his serve remains to be seen, but when could he next play Sinner, Alcaraz, or Djokovic on the ATP Tour?
Taylor Fritz could meet Carlos Alcaraz in the final of the Japan Open
Fritz battled through in three sets against Gabriel Diallo to book his place in the second round of the Japan Open.
The Spaniard didn’t have an easy time of things either, as Alcaraz fought through injury to beat Sebastian Baez in Tokyo.
Entering the event as the top two seeds, Fritz and Alcaraz could potentially face off in the Japan Open final.
Neither player will want to get too far ahead of themselves thinking about the final just yet, however, as they now focus on their second-round matches.
Fritz will play Portugal’s Nuno Borges on Friday, September 26, before Alcaraz plays Zizou Bergs on Saturday, September 27.
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