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Jan/18

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Warning: Surging Taylor Fritz On Verge Of Breakout

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By Scoop Malinowski

We’ve only seen the beginning impact of the Tennys Sandgren phenomenon which erupted in Melbourne and sent major shockwaves through the ATP World Tour.

There is no doubt that handfuls of ATP Challenger grinders keenly observed Sandgren’s sensational run in Melbourne and are inspired by it.

As I pointed out in a recent article, Sandgren lost to over a dozen players last year in Challengers and each and every one of those players has to be believing that he too can now get hot like Sandgren and plow his way through a Grand Slam draw to the quarterfinals at least.

One such player who has suddenly awakened with a hot streak is Taylor Fritz. The Californian struggled with confidence last year though he did manage to beat Sandgren twice in successive weeks in Challengers.

Fritz is red hot right now, having won his first title in over a year last week in Newport Beach. And this week in Dallas he’s won another two rounds, tonight besting veteran Bradley Klahn again, for the second time in four days. It was another three set win for Fritz, this time a 7-6 in the third set buster, following Sundays Newport Beach final win 6-0 in the third.

Fritz played a very intelligent match tonight, defusing Klahn’s potent forehand by zeroing in on the Klahn backhand over and over and over, nicely mixing up the speeds and spins to provoke errors.

Fritz burst on the scene a couple of years ago, smashing through Australian Open qualies to reach the main draw, where he lost in five sets to Jack Sock. He also lost in five sets to Sock that year at the US Open. Last year Fritz struggled with inconsistent results and his ranking dropped outside the top 100. But he’s back in the 70s range again and clearly on the rise.

So if you’re wondering which Challenger player appears ready to recreate another Tennys Sandgren phenomenon this spring and summer, keep an eye on Taylor Fritz.

81 comments

  • Scoop Malinowski · February 2, 2018 at 6:50 pm

    Scoop Malinowski writes:

    Hartt, of course he said it was an accident. What else could he say? The fact is a player always knows where the chair umpire is. And he knowingly fired that ball in the direction of the chair umpire. I think it's very possible he snapped and lost his mind and did the unthinkable. Of all the directions to fire the ball, chose the direction of the umpire. Maybe just maybe he intended for the ball to fly by and to scare the umpire not hit him. That would be my guess. To have a moment of rage and hit the chair umpire is very unlikely to be an accident. Jim Courier did it once in Miami when he was losing to Pete Sampras and Cliff Drysdale on ESPN thought it was intentional. The video is on You Tube. You know the old saying, "There are no coincidences."

  • Hartt · February 2, 2018 at 6:51 pm

    Scoop, even this Raonic fan is very discouraged. When he got injured in the off-season it seemed that he is fated to have one injury after another. It is pretty hard to do well in tennis if you rarely play a match. So, unless he can stay injury-free for a few months I think the chances of him winning a Masters, much less a Slam, are just about nil. And his chances of being injury-free for any length of time do not look good.

  • Hartt · February 2, 2018 at 7:00 pm

    Scoop, it is not just Denis who said it was an accident, but people who were there. He had no beef with the ump, he was frustrated with his own poor play. I can’t imagine the ump would be friendly with him in the months following if he thought for a moment that Denis has tried to hit him or had aimed the ball near his head.

  • Scoop Malinowski · February 2, 2018 at 7:10 pm

    Scoop Malinowski writes:

    Hartt, you may be right but tennis players have done some crazy things in the heat of the battle. Safin pulled his pants down. Corretja smashed his racquets at his chair AFTER he won a match (Hugo Armando told me this). Serena Williams threatened to murder a lineswoman and to do bodily harm to a chair umpire in a dark alley. Xavier Malisse pushed a chair umpire chair out onto the court. Yannick Noah did the moonwalk during a Davis Cup match. Frank Dancevic walked out to return serve in a match and forgot to bring his racquet. Crazy things can happen in tennis 🙂

  • Dan Markowitz · February 2, 2018 at 8:13 pm

    Alas, Gicquel called it quits in 2014 at age 37. The French are amazing. They play to they have nothing left. It was the same with Santoro, Leconte and Forget.

  • Duke Carnoustie · February 2, 2018 at 11:56 pm

    I give the legendary Arnaud Clement credit for retiring early at 34. Of course he had plenty of incentive since he is with some famous French singer.

    And yes, Clem is a legend for reaching a Slam final and top-10 ranking.

    Another legend we forget: Rainer Schuettler

  • catherine · February 3, 2018 at 1:44 am

    Duke – the dancing girls are part of the courtside decorations in St Petersburg. Just amazing. Like something out of the 20th century 🙂

    In fact the whole St Petersburg setup resembles an amusement arcade.

    It’s all got a bit lost with everyrthing else going on at the moment but there’s been some good tennis which I’ve been following live courtesy of Youtube.

  • catherine · February 3, 2018 at 1:52 am

    Kvitova/Georges SF should have happened in a GS but Julia has never shown up in GSs and Petra hasn’t been at her best recently.

    Winner of this should win the title. Julia’s become a favourite of mine but I don’t think she’ll beat Petra. If both are serving well (Julia leads WTA aces board) it’ll be a battle of serves and forehands.

  • catherine · February 3, 2018 at 10:10 am

    3 setter with Petra winning – Julia faded a bit at the end. Noticed a support on her right arm. But good hitting. Fast court in St Petersburg favouring aggressive play ?

  • Dan Markowitz · February 3, 2018 at 1:06 pm

    Ok what was the one of the most amazing wins in tennis history–and I know I’m rivaling Scoop here for hyperbole, but this was an amazing win–Cam Norrie coming back in Marbella on red clay against Agut from two sets to love and winning in five, the last two sets, 6-2,6-2. Agut is built like a cyclist and Norrie’s a little puffy. Agut is ranked no. 23, Norrie, 114. Amazing!

  • catherine · February 3, 2018 at 1:27 pm

    Dan – you might be surprised to learn just how far down the media totem pole the Davis Cup ranks in Britain. Many comments on just how British Norrie is. Plenty of that.

    Meanwhile,football, football football and more football when it’s not rugby.

    Brits lost the doubles limply.

  • catherine · February 3, 2018 at 1:44 pm

    Kiki on Dominic: ‘ My boyfriend loves me and he thinks I am beautiful’.

  • Chazz · February 3, 2018 at 2:41 pm

    Not sure why Kiki would feel the need to say that. She would be dumb to be with him if both of those things weren’t true. Cringeworthy quote.

    Steve Johnson and Harrison won in doubles in 4 sets to clinch the win against Serbia.

  • Hartt · February 3, 2018 at 2:55 pm

    Lol, what will come out of Kiki’s mouth next?

    I was sad that Dasha lost that match. Now my hopes rest with Petra. I saw the last half of her match against Goerges, and enjoyed it. Petra, with her good serving and general aggression and Julia willing to come in on occasion. At least she is not allergic to the net like so many of the women.

    Then had to focus on the DC doubles between Canada and Croatia – Nestor/Pospisil vs Cilic/Dodig. Canada was up 2 sets and a break when Croatia came to life and dominated for the rest of the match, winning in 5 sets. It was a heart-breaker for Canadian fans.

    The first match tomorrow between Shapo and Coric should be a good one, although Denis has a cold. The entire Canadian team is either ill or injured. 🙁

  • catherine · February 3, 2018 at 3:24 pm

    Oh I think Kiki’s just young 🙂

    I wondered if Julia’s arm was bothering her. She seemed to lose impetus in the 3rd set. She does come in quite a lot, has a good volley. But Petra seems very concentrated. Hope she takes the trophy. Must have been a big disappointment to lose to Petkovic at the AO. Although you have to like Andrea.

    I’m already sick of that Nike gear.

  • catherine · February 3, 2018 at 3:53 pm

    Julia will be pulling for Petra tomorrow. If Kvitova wins Georges will join Angie as the 2nd German in the top 10.

  • Hartt · February 3, 2018 at 3:58 pm

    I wish there was more variety in the Nike outfits. But I like it on Petra – think the shorts suit her.

    I am still annoyed with Kiki for criticizing Nestor at a trophy presentation after they lost the doubles. You do not criticize your partner in public like that! And she should have half the career Daniel has had. He is retiring after this year’s USO. He has 91 titles, including 8 Slams, Olympic gold, and 1,057 match wins.

  • Scoop Malinowski · February 3, 2018 at 5:44 pm

    Scoop Malinowski writes:

    Surprisingly Llodra quit early when he was still lethal in doubles. Could probably still play top 40 doubles level tennis if he wanted to. Always enjoyed watching lefty Llodra in singles and doubles. BTW Dan it's Llodra not Llorda, the way I saw you misspell it at least 25 times 🙂

  • Scoop Malinowski · February 3, 2018 at 5:46 pm

    Scoop Malinowski writes:

    Norrie got hot late last year in Challengers, winning one or two at the end of the year. Also beat Sandgren I think three weeks in a row. So by this logic, Norrie should semi at a major this year 🙂 Just one-upping some more hyperbole on top of your's Dan. I saw some of this match and Norrie looked better than Agut, spreading him wide and finishing with volleys. Norris has top 20 potential.

  • Scoop Malinowski · February 3, 2018 at 5:49 pm

    Scoop Malinowski writes:

    Catherine, I'm surprised by the small crowds at these Davis Cup ties. Spain and Serbia look like a Challengers. Brisbane looks big time. I guess with out big stars playing these ties in the first round it's like a Challenger event. QF and SF and F of Davis Cup is far more electric.

  • Scoop Malinowski · February 3, 2018 at 5:54 pm

    Scoop Malinowski writes:

    Catherine, not many of the top WTA players have boyfriends believe it or not. So like Sock late last year, looks like Kiki is seeing the joy of love take her game to a new level of excellence. I like the fact Kiki is boasting about her new boyfriend Thiem and it makes him look better. Looking forward to hearing Navratilova's comments on how Kiki's romance with Thiem is turning her career around from an abysmal slump to major champion.

  • Scoop Malinowski · February 3, 2018 at 5:56 pm

    Scoop Malinowski writes:

    Hartt, that is a devastating loss for Nestor who has been in a horrific slump since last summer. Nestor is 44 and could be at the end, the bitter end. But I would guess he will hang on for as long as possible, like Paes is trying to do. These guys love the life of being ATP doubles legends.

  • Scoop Malinowski · February 3, 2018 at 5:57 pm

    Scoop Malinowski writes:

    Hartt, what on earth did loose cannon kiki say about Nestor?

  • Duke Carnoustie · February 4, 2018 at 12:52 am

    Yes lots of the WTA players are in the high-maintenance category for one and also how many guys their age can be supportive boyfriends and travel around with them like a romantic partner would.

    So the tour is tough on the ladies for sure – particularly if they have tennis-crazy parents to deal with too. That’s why the coaches who succeed are so influential to WTA players dealing with difficult emotional situations as opposed to the men – who can easily find women for, let’s call it “companionship,” in every ATP city.

  • Hartt · February 4, 2018 at 12:54 am

    Scoop, Nestor is actually 45 years and 5 months old. Last year he announced he would retire this season, and recently he said he would play the grass season, including Wimby, Rogers Cup. Cincy and the USO. (He is scheduled to play Sofia in a couple days.) A while ago he said he would be available for DC in the fall if required. But that’s it. He wants to spend more time with his family – he has 2 young daughters. He wouldn’t consider the DC captain position, saying he wanted a couple quiet years, but might be interested in the job in the future.

    Rogers Cup will be in Toronto this year, Nestor’s hometown, and I imagine there will be a huge celebration of his career. For so many years he was the bright spot in Canadian tennis.

  • Hartt · February 4, 2018 at 12:57 am

    Kiki and Thiem have been an item for several months, so they were together during Kiki’s terrible slump. So if the romance gets the credit for her recent turnaround, it has to take the blame for the slump as well. 🙂

  • catherine · February 4, 2018 at 2:06 am

    Scoop – I’m sure quite a lot of the top women players have boyfriends – they’re just not telling the whole world about their personal lives. Being sensible people.

    And Hartt’s right – Kiki and Thiem have been together for a year or so I think. So maybe Dominic got her through her slump 🙂

    I doubt Martina could care less one way or the other about Kiki and Thiem. She’s not someone to keep her mouth shut (on many topics) but she’s never been a proselytiser and has many friends who are not gay.

    And Sock – next thing we’ll hear is they’ve split and she’s back at college.

  • catherine · February 4, 2018 at 2:07 am

    Hartt – I just hope Simona doesn’t sign with Nike 🙂

  • Scoop Malinowski · February 4, 2018 at 2:53 pm

    Scoop Malinowski writes:

    I think Kiki is actually playing better the more she talks about her romance with Thiem. She should keep talking about it till she wins a singles major.

  • catherine · February 4, 2018 at 3:10 pm

    Scoop – ha ha Kiki will certainly have to keep on talking after St Petersburg. Hope Thiem wasn’t watching 🙂

  • Scoop Malinowski · February 4, 2018 at 3:45 pm

    Scoop Malinowski writes:

    Catherine, let's hope Thiem doesn't McIlroy Kiki because it might trigger a worst slump than 0-15 🙂

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