Just a year after his ATP debut in 2015, 18-year-old Taylor Fritz proposed to his high-school sweetheart, Raquel Pedraza, in front of the Eiffel Tower. The couple got married just as quickly and had a son, Jordan Fritz, the next year. But amid his expanding family, the young tennis star—tagged as a #NextGen star at the time—was also seeing an exponential rise in his career graph.

At a time when most people were planning for college, Fritz was knee-deep in a professional career. At the start of his ATP career, the Olympic bronze medalist was ranked No. 1,141 and ended 2015 with No. 177. By 2016-end, he was already at No.77, and named the ATP Star of Tomorrow for being the youngest player within the Top-100. However, Becoming a parent at a stage when he was trying to make a name for himself in the sport was a challenge, but thanks to his Pedraza, now his ex-wife, Fritz was able to balance between his professional life and family.

It was Netflix’s docuseries ‘Break Point’, released last year, that revealed how Fritz was a devoted father along with a tennis pro. But it was in 2017, that the ATP star first revealed the role of tennis star wife in helping him navigate parenthood. In a press conference at the Eastbourne Open that year, Fritz said, “My life really hasn’t changed too much because of how my wife has really stepped up. She’s really just doing everything she can for me and for my tennis.”

Unfortunately, the couple got divorced in 2019, just three years after the wedding, but continue to have an amicable relationship as they co-parent Jordan. Last year, in an interview with Haute Living, the player admitted that having a kid at 19 made him think about how his career would be affected. However, whatever apprehensions he may have had at that point about his son and his career were eased with Pedraza at his side.

As things stand, Fritz is a devoted father and still spends each family holiday with Jordan despite his busy schedule. “I have a son that I don’t get to see near as much as I’d like. As it stands right now, I just have to try to see him as much as I possibly can,” he said on Netflix’s Break Point series, before adding, “I just hope as he gets older he understands what I’m doing, and understands what I’m trying to do.” As the No.1 player in the US, time is money for the 26-year-old. In 2020, he was strangely grateful for the quarantine.

Speaking to the Interview Magazine in 2020, he said, “I took about a month off to just do nothing and I felt like I really needed that. I haven’t had time like that in five years. And when I say nothing, I mean that I wasn’t playing tennis or working out. Instead, I spent time being with my son, sleeping in, and playing video games,” he said.

In 2018, after the Indiana Wells Open, Fritz brought Jordan along for post-match socializing with fans. On Christmas 2020, he posted a photo with Jordan on Instagram. A wide smile accompanied both of their faces as Jordan held a freshly opened Hot Wheels set beside the tree. A similar post a year later showcased Fritz hugging his son. But what does Jordan think of his dad as an athlete?

On Netflix’s Break Point, the tennis player shared, “When I told him that I’m not the best tennis player in the world, he’s a little surprised and a little disappointed that I’m not the best.” But then what’s his solution? “He’s not easily impressed. I guess I just need to keep improving so maybe at one point I can say, ‘Hey Jordan, I’m actually the best in the world.'”

Fritz’s gratitude for his ex-wife showcases that despite wanting to be the “best tennis player”, this ATP star doesn’t wanna miss out on his son’s upbringing. He further mentioned how this fatherhood journey changed him, offering him insightful lessons about life.

Taylor Fritz delves deeper into the “lessons” he received from his fatherhood journey

In his interview with Haute Living, Fritz spoke about his challenges and learnings as a father at length. “I think [having a kid] taught me a lot of lessons about time management. … It also taught me to not care so much about other people’s opinions. … I was always very concerned about how my career would be affected, the things people were saying, and things of that nature,” he said.

He then said how he “learned one, not to care” and then second to just handle his “business and be as productive as possible.” Fritz mentioned how he has more things to manage on his plate now that he is a father and in a relationship. The star has been dating tennis influencer Morgan Riddle since June 2020, just seven months after divorce was finalized. Still going strong, Fritz alluded that he and Riddle have very “common goals”. 

Taylor Fritz’s early statement about his ex-wife’s contribution after their son’s birth showcases the struggles of even ATP players to balance family and professional goals. It also represents Fritz as a dedicated father who wishes to become a good tennis player relying on the lessons he learned after having his son.