“Carlos makes me more uncomfortable than Jannik”: Fritz on what separates him from the top two ahead of Stockholm final
Carlos Alcaraz makes Taylor Fritz more uncomfortable than Jannik Sinner, but the Italian beats him at his own game. Ahead of the Stockholm final, the American explained what separates him from the top two.
Carlos Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz, Rolex Paris Masters 2026 | © B. Autissier / PsNewz
Carlos Alcaraz makes Taylor Fritz more uncomfortable than Jannik Sinner does, but the Italian beats him at his own game. On the eve of the Bybit Stockholm Open final against Thiago Agustin Tirante, the American explained on Friday what separates him from the two men, and believes that against the Spaniard, it is above all a matter of consistency.
“I think Carlos is very uncomfortable playing due to his way of playing,” he told Bolavip. “He makes me more uncomfortable than Jannik, but Jannik will beat me more by playing my own game, which means that I feel comfortable against Jannik, but he still beats me doing it.”
Fritz pointed to their quarter-final at the Rolex Paris Masters, where he held two match points against Alcaraz. “With Carlos, I feel like there are days where I can play on that level, basically like I did in Paris, where I was in a position to beat him. I was on the same level as him in that match, so it’s definitely more in terms of the consistency.”
Sinner, whom he has not faced for a while, is harder for him to assess. “He is an amazing returner and mover and just such an elite ball striker of course.”
Fritz was speaking in Stockholm after beating Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 6-2 in 63 minutes in the semi-finals. He has now reached six finals this season, a career best. On Saturday, he will face Tirante, who won their only previous meeting, 7-5, 6-3 in Montreal in August.
Fritz “still improving”
After a year and a half hampered by his knee, Fritz says he is finally making progress again. “The level I have played at the end of the year is giving me a lot of confidence that I am still improving a lot and moving in the right direction,” he said. “I can finally start fixing the things in my game that I need to fix to win a Grand Slam.” Top of his list: his transition game, and coming to the net at the right time.
People in this post
More tennis news
Andreeva holds the cards to become world No. 2 as Muchova pulls out of WTA Finals and Shnaider steps in
Fritz avenges Lyon defeat to Musetti and reaches career-best sixth final of the season in Stockholm
Tirante beats Tabilo to reach first ATP final in Stockholm, the day he opened up on his mental health
November 13, 1988: The day Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert played for the 80th and final time
“I haven’t been happy for the last couple of years”: Tirante opens up on mental health and players’ big egos
