Andy Roddick explains the ‘weird thing’ which has happened to Taylor Fritz after he loses to Jannik Sinner at the ATP Finals
Andy Roddick explains the ‘weird thing’ which has happened to Taylor Fritz after he loses to Jannik Sinner at the ATP Finals
Jannik Sinner beat Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4 in the final of the ATP Finals in Turin.
Fritz reached the final of the ATP Finals for the first time in his career in 2024, having reached the last four in his only previous appearance at the event in 2022.
The American impressed throughout the event, with wins over Daniil Medvedev and Alex de Minaur in the ATP Finals group stages.
Fritz then beat Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals, his fourth consecutive victory over the German world number two.
Taylor Fritz of United States shakes hands with Alexander Zverev of Germany following the Men’s Semi Final match during Day Seven of the Nitto ATP …
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
After falling to Sinner in the group stages, Fritz also lost to Sinner in the final, as he came up just short of winning the biggest trophy of his career to date.
It was another defeat for the 27-year-old against the Italian, as Sinner beat Fritz to win the US Open, earlier this year.
Another defeat, in what is becoming a worrying matchup for the American, according to a former world number one.
Andy Roddick on the ‘weird thing’ Taylor Fritz has to deal with against Jannik Sinner
Speaking on his podcast, Andy Roddick described what will be tough for Fritz after his two defeats to Sinner in Turin.
“It’s not often as a professional that’s [number] four in the world, who’s made a grand slam final that year, you leave after getting drubbed four and four, [6-4, 6-4], and you go; one, I’m not sure what else I can do, two, I played pretty well, three, I really had no shot,” he said.
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“That’s a weird thing for Taylor where it’s like I’ve become the best version of myself, I move better, I’m more consistent, I’ve improved everything, and also, what I do plays into this guys [Sinner’s] strengths in this specific matchup.
“I lived it for a long time, I was on the wrong side of that equation for a long time.
“If you’re Fritz’s camp, it’s weird because you’ve had a career-best year, you’ve broken through the glass ceiling of only making the quarters of Grand Slams with the US Open run, and a lot of name value-added, but Sinner was just dominant start to finish.”
Winner Jannik Sinner of Italy receives the trophy from Andre Agassi, left finalist Taylor Fritz of USA during the trophy ceremony following the Men…
Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images
Roddick went on to say that the American should still take a lot of positives from his 2024 season.
“Props to Taylor Fritz, he’s going to finish number four in the world, which is a career-high, that is a step,” he said.
“He is going to be seeded top four [at the 2025 Australian Open].”
Was Taylor Fritz’s 2024 season the best by an American since Andy Roddick?
Fritz reached two huge finals in 2024, at the US Open and the ATP Finals, all whilst reaching number four in the world, perhaps the best year by an American since Roddick retired in 2012.
Season Year-end ranking Australian Open French Open Wimbledon US Open ATP Finals Best Masters 1000 result
Taylor Fritz – 2024 4 QF 4R QF F F SF – Madrid/ Shanghai
Jack Sock – 2017 8 3R 1R 2R 1R SF W – Paris
Taylor Fritz – 2022 9 4R 2R QF 1R SF W – Indian Wells
John Isner – 2018 10 1R 4R SF QF RR W – Miami Open
Taylor Fritz – 2023 10 2R 3R 2R QF DNQ SF – Monte-Carlo
Best American ATP seasons post-Andy Roddick retirement
It isn’t hard to see that the 27-year-old’s 2024 season is by far the best we have seen from an American in recent years.
The only American to reach a Major final since Roddick, Fritz reached new ground on the ATP Tour this year which can’t go unnoticed.
Finishing the year as world number four, Fritz will be the first American to finish the season in the top-five, since James Blake finished reached the same ranking back in 2006.
A great year for Fritz, who will be looking to push on in 2025, as he aims to become the first American Grand Slam winner since Roddick won the US Open 21 years ago.
Fritz will return to action at the Davis Cup, as his American team will take on Australia on Thursday.
