Taylor Fritz is making waves at the ATP Finals! After beating Alex de Minaur in a three-setter, he needed Jannik Sinner to take a set off Medvedev to ensure his semi-final qualification. And that’s what has happened. Sinner has won the first set against Medvedev and Fritz is through to the semis in Turin. This has been a decent season for Fritz, where he has clinched titles at the Eastbourne International and Delray Beach Open, apart from making his way to the US Open final. But that’s not it. He has also put himself in the league of some of the legends of the sport.

After nearly a decade in professional tennis, Fritz first climbed to the 5th position in the ATP rankings in February 2023. Although he dropped to 10th by the end of that season, he rebounded to reclaim the 5th position this year. Counting his 9th ranking in 2022, he has now stayed consecutively in the Top Ten for three years! Winning two titles and making it to the finals of several matches has finally paid off.

Fritz is now part of an elite group that includes legends like Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. Sampras kept his position intact in top 10 for nearly a decade, from 1990 to 2001, and held the No. 1 ranking for an impressive 286 weeks. Agassi, on the other hand, remained in the top 10 for 16 years, from 1988 to 2005. Now, Fritz is standing among them. What an absolute honor!

Fritz’s journey at the 2024 Nitto ATP Finals has been thrilling. After losing to Sinner in his previous match, he bounced back against De Minaur, winning 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 in a hard-fought battle in Turin. With this victory, he secured two wins out of three matches, propelling him into the semi-finals for the second time since 2022!

As he gears up for his next challenge, Taylor Fritz boasts a total of eight titles, but he’s still chasing his first Grand Slam. He came close to winning the US Open this year but eventually lost to Jannik Sinner.

While Fritz has earned accolades for his performances this year, a former pro believes he could do even better!

Italian legend dissects what could possibly be holding Fritz back

In an interview with TuttoSport on November 13th, the Italian legend Adriano Panatta reflected on Taylor Fritz’s fluctuating performance this season. After seeing him lose once again to Jannik in the second round in Turin, Panatta remarked, “Look at Fritz. You play well and you play well and you play well and then you get to the final, you catch Sinner and you lose.”

While Panatta talked about improvements in Fritz’s defensive skills, he also emphasized that it’s still not enough to compete against top-ranked players. The Italian veteran pointed out that Fritz “is a bit lazy when he moves from the baseline, he relies too much on his arm and doesn’t position his legs well.”

Fritz kicked off his campaign in Turin with confidence, stunning Daniil Medvedev in his opening match. He took down the Russian with a comfortable scoreline of 6-4, 6-3, showcasing his powerful shots and strategic play. Many expected him to carry that momentum into his next match against Jannik Sinner. However, things didn’t go as planned. Against the four-time Grand Slam champion, Fritz struggled with shot selection and movement, ultimately losing in straight sets, 4-6, 4-6.

As he heads into the semifinals, Fritz will need to refine his tactics and improve his movement if he hopes to succeed against elite players like Sinner. Panatta’s insights suggest that there’s room for improvement in Fritz’s game. Fritz will certainly want to work on his drawbacks, if there are any, in the off-season, but for now, he will only aim to win his next two matches and lift the title in Turin. Do you think he can do that? Let us know in the comments below.