“I’m right there” – Fritz optimistic despite Wimbledon loss
The American believes his game is improving against the world’s best
Imago/Psnewz
Taylor Fritz came within millimeters of forcing a fifth set against Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon semi-finals on Friday, losing in four tight sets to the two-time defending champion.
Despite the disappointment of his tournament ending, Fritz is encouraged by his competitive showing: something that not many ATP Tour players are able to do against Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner at the moment.
“I’m right there,” Fritz said of his current level.
“I thought that I played a good match. I had my chances, for sure.”
Dips in level the difference
Analysing his performance afterwards, Fritz says that the result was determined by a few brief lapses in intensity from his end.
“A couple hiccups first game of the match and then in the third set,” he explained.
“The second and the fourth, I definitely did exactly what I set out to do and play how I wanted to play. The two sets that I played to the level that I want to be playing at, I’m right there. Yeah, like I said, played really well in the second and the fourth. Lost the fourth, but it’s there.
“I just need to avoid playing the times where the level dips a bit and then he can grab a break and just get ahead of me.”
Constant improvement the aim
While Fritz is yet to beat Alcaraz in three meetings, and his only win over Sinner came in 2021, before the Italian had ascended to the top of the ATP rankings, the American believes that victory over the world’s best is possible.
“Every time I play these guys, I learn a lot about what I need to do to improve and get better,” Fritz explained.
“Moving ahead, I just want to keep working on the things that are going to get me better, that are going to help me compete with these guys. Because at the end of the day, my ultimate goal is to win a slam. I think I’m going to have to at some point beat these guys to do it. It’s obviously a tough ask.
“If I keep putting myself in these situations and playing them, I learn more about my game and what I need to do differently and what I need to do better to get to that level.”
