Every American tennis fan is aware of Taylor Fritz’s potential and talent. Ranked among the top American ATP stars, Fritz, at 26 years old, already boasts several significant achievements. But did you know that his excellence in the sport is a family legacy? His mother, often seen in the player’s box, dedicated a huge part of her life to tennis.

Kathy May Fritz, born on June 18, 1956, in Beverly Hills, California, carries a remarkable tennis legacy. Now a calm and quiet presence behind Taylor Fritz, she was once a fierce competitor who challenged legends like Billie Jean King. During her career, she won seven singles titles and four doubles titles, achieving a career-high singles ranking of World No. 10 in 1978.

In Grand Slam events, Kathy May reached the quarterfinals of three major tournaments: the French Open in 1977 and 1978, and the US Open in 1978. She competed against some of the greatest players of her time, including seven-time Roland Garros champion Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, and Billie Jean King.

Kathy May defeated Billie Jean King three times throughout her career. The first triumph was in 1973 at the US Open, followed by wins in 1977 at the Toray Sillook Open in Tokyo and 1981 at the New South Wales Championships in Sydney. Adding to her accolades, May held a 2-1 head-to-head record against King.

May achieved a notable victory over Martina Navratilova in 1977 at the Egyptian Open, held in Cairo. This was one of Navratilova’s rare defeats in that era, highlighting May’s competitive prowess during her career.

Despite two unsuccessful marriages before marrying Guy Fritz (Taylor’s father), Kathy maintained her dedication as a WTA star. Although she retired from professional tennis years ago, her significant achievements remain celebrated in the sport’s history.

However, Taylor Fritz continues to pursue the accomplishments his mother aspires to achieve. Former competitor Chris Evert often praises Kathy May’s talent and sees similar qualities in her son.

When Chris Evert dropped a “like mother like son” remark for Taylor Fritz

During one of Taylor Fritz’s matches in 2023, Chris Evert, now an ESPN commentator, reminisced about playing against his mother and noted the similarities between them. “So, I’m watching @Taylor_Fritz97 remembering playing his mom, Kathy May in our era. She was a great competitor…. like mother, like son,” she tweeted, expressing the happiness to see a peer’s son move ahead in the same sport that her mother pursued.

Chris Evert and Taylor Fritz’s mother, Kathy May competed in four tour-level matches, with Evert winning all four. The two first met in Washington, DC in 1977, with the 18-time Grand Slam champion defeating her compatriot 6-4, 6-3. They met again in the 1977 Hilton Head quarterfinals when the former World No. 1 won 6-0, 6-1. Evert retained her domination in their third meeting in Boston in 1979, winning 6-3, 6-0. In their final match at the 1979 Wimbledon Championships, the American won 6-4, 6-3, keeping her perfect record against the former World No. 10.

However, while there are still many who are not aware of Fritz’s strong legacy, comments from former pros highlight the origination of Taylor Fritz’s unique skillset.