Taylor Fritz's Journey to Grand Slam Success
2024: A Year of Mixed Results
Fritz's 2024 was a year of both victories and setbacks. He lost the US Open final and ATP Finals final to Jannik Sinner, showing his competitiveness on the biggest stages. However, he also won two tour-level titles, demonstrating his ability to perform at a high level. Fritz's end-of-year ranking of number four is a testament to his fantastic displays throughout the season.But Fritz knows that he cannot rest on his laurels. The competition is fierce, and he will need to continue to work hard to maintain his position and improve. His fellow stars Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are certain to be constantly challenging for silverware, and Fritz will need to be at his best to stay ahead.
The Importance of Volleys According to Rennae Stubbs
Rennae Stubbs has realized an interesting aspect about Taylor Fritz. In a conversation on The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast, she mentioned that Fritz needs to better understand the value of volleys. She recalled a conversation with Fritz on Instagram where she pushed him to go forward with his volleys.Stubbs pointed out that Fritz and Tommy Paul lost the doubles final in Cincinnati against the Aussie guys who are good at volleying. Fritz's response made Stubbs realize that Fritz doesn't value that part of tennis. She emphasized that while volleys may not be necessary to win all matches, they are crucial for winning a Grand Slam. Fritz needs to understand that being at the net and using volleys can give him an edge.
Competing with the Leading Duo in 2025
Sinner won eight titles in 2024 and should be the man to beat again next year. Alcaraz, with four titles, was a close second and finished third in the year-end rankings. The German, Alexander Zverev, will also be aiming to keep up with the leading duo.Daniil Medvedev and Casper Ruud will join Fritz in the fight to topple Sinner and Alcaraz. Fritz will need to improve his game to compete with these top players. Rennae Stubbs is excited to see how Fritz can progress from his superb run in New York and push himself to improve his net game and forehand momentum.
Making a Grand Slam final is a significant milestone, and Stubbs believes that Fritz now knows what he needs to do to take the next step. Moving forward and being better at moving forward will help him stay in the race with the likes of Sinner and Alcaraz. If he doesn't, he may find it difficult to keep up with the top players.