World no. 9 Taylor Fritz once again has bombed out early at a Grand Slam for the fourth time in a row, losing to another journeyman underdog.
Today, Fritz blew a two sets to love lead and lost in five sets 62 in the fifth to world no. 59 Mikael Ymer.
At Roland Garros he lost to world no. 23 Francisco Cerdundolo in the third round in four sets.
At Australian Open, Fritz lost in the second round in five sets to world no. 113 Alex Popyrin.
At US Open last year Fritz lost in the first round to first time Grand Slam qualifier Brandon Holt. It was Holt’s first career ATP match win.
You surely remember, Fritz’s last good Grand Slam run was at Wimbledon 2022 where he lost in five sets to Rafael Nadal in the QF fifth set tiebreaker. Nadal subsequently withdrew from the semifinal showdown vs Nick Kyrgios with an injury endured in the marathon vs. Fritz. Fritz hasn’t been the same player since, though he did win a title this year in Delray Beach. Fritz also won Tokyo last year following US Open. He’s won five ATP singles titles including 2022 at Indian Wells where he beat Nadal in the final.
So instead of making a big Grand Slam breakout after the epic with Nadal a year ago, Fritz has stagnated and now has failed miserably in four consecutive Grand Slams.
The question is why? Why is this top ten talent nosediving in the biggest tournaments when he should be progressing upwards? Fritz turned pro in 2015 and should have the experience now to threaten to win Grand Slams and battle with the ATP elites, many of which he has defeated.
You have to wonder if it’s time for Fritz to change coaches and replace Michael Russell and Paul Annacone, both solid ATP players who never were Grand Slam title contenders.
Head tennis · Nike · Taylor Fritz · USA · Wimbledon
Cory · July 7, 2023 at 11:51 pm
M Ymer is a PITA for almost everyone. The guy upsets people on the regular (okay not necessarily top 10/20 but still). Way better than ranking. Steady.
Sam · July 8, 2023 at 12:34 am
Well, Scoop, maybe that’s why Fritz had a [b]Plan B[/b] to bring him renown if his tennis wasn’t quite up to snuff: 😏
https://www.wionews.com/sports/totally-normal-american-star-taylor-fritz-feels-openly-gay-player-would-be-accepted-on-atp-tour-546588
Sam · July 8, 2023 at 12:36 am
Oops, forgot that brackets don’t work on your site. That should be Plan B just above. 😊
Sam · July 8, 2023 at 12:37 am
Never mind—that didn’t work either. I’m not sure HOW to make text appear boldface on your site. 🤪
Scoop Malinowski · July 8, 2023 at 6:41 am
Cory, I remember at Newport ten years ago when Kozlov got a WC and almost won his first match at 16, at his press conference after, Ymer was playing on the TV in Sweden also as a WC and Kozlov was watching a few points and said he knew Ymer and said he’s really good, hit hard. Now Ymer is where he is and Kozlov is still out there in obscurity, ranked around 400. Ymer is a threat to anyone, as Fritz learned.
Scoop Malinowski · July 8, 2023 at 6:41 am
Sam, forgot about that, he’s been nothing since that bizarre comment.