"Each year he's been doing a little better on the grass": Fritz' coach believes signs are ominous for further breakout during grass court season

World No.8 Taylor Fritz has been tipped to have a successful grass court season, according to his coach Michael Russel.

The American won Eastbourne in 2019, and reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals last year, losing to Rafael Nadal in five sets. Russel believes Fritz has improved over the past 12 months, and is in conversation for one of the top 10 players on grass.

“I feel that he believes that he is one of the best grass-court players in the world,” said Russel in an interview with Eurosport. "He serves well, he's got great hands, which allows him to return a lot of the big serves, and his confidence on a grass court…I think that gives him a lot of intangible positivity on the grass, because he believes that he can win.

"I think Taylor's game is a little more dangerous on the grass just because of the way that he can take the racquet out of your hand and finish points with his serve, powerful returns and first-ball strikes that gives him a little more confidence and comfort on the grass.

“Each year he's been doing a little better on the grass. So hopefully, this year, he'll have his best year.”

Fritz is the second seed at the Stuttgart Open and is set to start his grass season against Aslan Karatsev.