In an era where tennis is unveiling new talents, Taylor Fritz is emerging as a strong contender. His season has been marked by impressive performances, clinching titles at the Eastbourne International and the Delray Beach Open. He made it to the quarterfinals and semifinals of multiple tournaments and championship match of the ATP Finals even though he’s received the label of being a “lazy” player. Could it be that Fritz has figured out a way to get him to the top?

Paul Annacone, who occasionally coaches Fritz alongside Michael Russell during Grand Slams, believes Fritz has discovered a key strategy to improve his game. Speaking on the Tennis Channel Inside-In Podcast, Annacone shared insights into players’ mindsets on the court. Drawing from his experience coaching legends like Roger Federer, he emphasized the importance of focusing on a player’s progression. This focus is crucial for long-term success. Rather than just aiming for immediate victories, players should concentrate on their overall development. He stated, “I look at how well your average level improves.”

Fritz exemplifies this approach. The ATP schedule can be grueling, but he has thrived by playing “average tennis” while still winning matches. His recent victory over Daniil Medvedev in the ATP Finals semifinals propelled him to a career-high No. 4 ranking was not an easy journey. Annacone noted that Fritz’s frustrations stemmed from not reaching his peak level before this tournament. As ahead of this he faced consecutive losses at tournaments following the US Open final against Jannik Sinner.

“Now he’s realizing ‘I can get through these matches, play average tennis for me and give myself a chance to move further along in the week and then I’ll play better in the big matches,’” Annacone explained. This strategy has become increasingly evident. During his ATP Finals run, Italian legend Adriano Panatta labeled Fritz as a “lazy” player. He criticized Fritz for relying too much on his arm from the baseline. Instead of utilizing his legs, Fritz’s strategy seemed to lack the necessary movement. But now Annacone’s observations hold weight.

Before the ATP Finals, Fritz didn’t meet expectations at events like the Paris Masters or during the Asian swing. Yet, he had consistently reached the top eight and top four stages in tournaments like the Australian Open, Munich Open, Madrid Open, Wimbledon, and Shanghai Masters. As Annacone put it, “I think it’s kind of a conglomeration of all these big moments where he’s looking more comfortable.”

Now ranked No. 4 and a runner-up at both the US Open and ATP Finals, Fritz is likely feeling more confident in his game. “Rightfully so, he believes that he belongs there,” Annacone said. And this improvement began to show after the ATP Finals as well! Fritz joined Team USA for the Davis Cup and defeated Alex De Minaur in straight sets (6-3, 6-4). According to him, he’s been working on a new technique that had helped him overcome Alexander Zverev in the ATP Finals semifinal!

Fritz gets secretive about a new technique he’s working on but reveals the minor details!

On November 16th, Fritz claimed his fourth victory over Alexander Zverev at the ATP Finals semifinal. He bounced back from a second-set loss to win the match with a score of 3-6, 6-3, 7(7)-6(3). Everyone was buzzing with excitement as he showcased his upgraded skill set that has seen improvement over the course of his season. He started out as the 12th player in the ATP rankings at the US Open, then came down to No. 9. Now he’s sitting proud at the 4th position! In a post-match interview, when asked about the changes he made leading up to the finals, Fritz was a bit coy. “First off, I don’t really want to give away the stuff that I’ve been working on,” he said. It’s clear that he’s keeping his strategies close to the chest.

However, Fritz did share some insights! Revealing that his forehand has seen significant improvement: “There’s a certain forehand that I’m hitting a lot better than I was hitting before. That’s been a big change.” He noted that this adjustment was motivated by his matchups with top players. “It’s something I’ve been working on. I’m already seeing big improvements,” he added. His performance at the Davis Cup proves that. He was even hailed for keeping Team USA alive during their quarterfinal clash against Australia. With such a secretive yet effective strategy in play, will we see more of this super-secret game plan next season? Share your thoughts in the comments below!