“Congratulations to Jannik, he played a great match. He was very impressive and was too good today,” was all Taylor Fritz could say after facing a defeat against Jannik Sinner at the US Open Finals. Although the American managed to take down the biggest of rivals to attain a spot in the final, it still didn’t work out for him because of the young Italian’s dominance. While there was one more opportunity for him to complete revenge, Fritz couldn’t utilize it well. When asked about how he feels, the response that he gave turned out to be the saddening reality of tennis, which people barely talk about.

Taylor Fritz was able to leave a significant mark on tennis this season. He reached milestones and created records that haven’t been seen in American men’s tennis for nearly two decades. Finishing the season in the ATP Top 5, Fritz became the first American player since James Blake in 2006 to secure this position. His performance in 2024 included reaching his first Grand Slam final at the US Open. Reflecting on his accomplishments and the attention American media places on finding a new No. 1, Fritz shared, “I don’t think anyone’s going to be considered enough until, I guess, someone wins a slam. I think I’ve probably shown through the years that, I mean, I’ve had the best results.”

Despite his strong results, Fritz acknowledged the challenges of standing out in the tennis world without a major title. “If people don’t think I’m good enough to win a slam, then yeah, you’re going to look to younger people that they think have more potential. I mean, that is what it is,” he stated. But Fritz remained confident as he knew his game was enough to solidify his top American standing for several years. “I kind of just let my results do the talking. If that’s not enough for people, then it is what it is,” he said, highlighting how his consistent performance continues to speak for itself.

Fritz reached his 50th victory of the season with a strong win over Daniil Medvedev at the ATP Finals. He defeated the Russian ATP star with a final scoreline of 6-4, 6-3. Reflecting on his impressive form, he said, “I’m super happy with how I played today,” giving out the satisfaction with his progress. This season included titles at both the Delray Beach Open and Eastbourne International which strengthened his status as one of the world’s top players. His win against Alex De Minaur in the ATP Finals group stage which was a hard-fought match that he won 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, secured his spot in the semifinals.

Looking ahead, Fritz anticipates another encounter with De Minaur next week in the Davis Cup. “I think the team aspect changes a little bit,” Fritz explained. “In my opinion, I feel like he typically plays better in the team environment. I also feel like I play better in the team environment.” He remains ready to face his rival once again, saying, “It’s still going to be a nightmare to play him next week, too. We’ll see. Hopefully I can make it happen again.” The American ATP star’s statements on a big issue highlighted how players with no slams also deserve to be recognized. However, it isn’t just him who struggles with this problem despite being on top.

Besides Taylor Fritz, Alexander Zverev also aims to fulfill his grand slam title dream

Alexander Zverev sees the ATP Finals as both a prestigious event and a crucial preparation for the challenges that await him in 2025. While he’s aiming to finish the season strong, the German champion has his sights set on a Grand Slam title next year. With this, he’s hoping to finally break through after two heartbreaking Major final losses: at the 2020 US Open and the 2024 French Open. Zverev shared in a pre-tournament press conference that he believes his struggles in Grand Slams come down to an issue of mentality. “I’ve always said it’s special to play here; you face the top eight in the world right from the first match,” he explained, accepting that this intense start helps push him to perform at his best immediately. “In Grand Slams, I play very long matches at the beginning, unnecessary five-set matches against players I probably shouldn’t be facing in five sets,” he added, making it clear that fatigue from these early battles has often affected him in later rounds.

Zverev shared how his mindset is necessary to sustain his energy through an entire Major tournament. “Here…I know that if I don’t play my best tennis from the first point, I have no chance of winning,” he said, highlighting the difference between Grand Slams and high-stakes events like the ATP Finals. The German star believes he needs to bring that same focused mentality to Grand Slam matches to avoid unnecessary five-set battles that drain him over the course of the tournament. Despite the lingering effects of a recent illness, Zverev remains determined to finish 2024 strong and begin 2025 with the goal of achieving his first Grand Slam title.