"I can move better": Taylor Fritz's resurgence lands him in Stuttgart final showdown

Sunday, 15 June 2025 at 03:01

The world No. 7 Taylor Fritz has reached his first final of the season at the Stuttgart Open, after defeating Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime in straight sets. The American No. 1 will be looking for his first title since Eastbourne International 2024.

Of Fritz's 8 career titles, three have been on grass courts, all at Eastbourne (2019, 2022, 2024). This time in Stuttgart, he aims to reaffirm his status as one of the best on the surface. He will face Alexander Zverev in the final, who earlier eliminated fellow American Ben Shelton in the semifinals.

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Fritz has primarily excelled on hard courts throughout his career, although three grass titles is a significant number, especially considering that top players, who prioritize Wimbledon, typically only have room to play two or three grass tournaments.

The 27-year-old has put a rocky clay-court swing behind him, where he won only one of his last five matches on slow surfaces, including a first-round loss at Roland Garros (where he was the 4th seed). However, everything seems to have turned around since his arrival in Stuttgart. "I feel really good. I had problems on clay, I felt very slow. On the one hand, I was coming back from an injury, and on the other hand, I just didn’t have enough practice on clay."

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"Normally, I start the season earlier there. I thought to myself that I wasn’t actually playing that badly, but I wasn’t performing well at all on the big points. I did better this week. I played the big points well and mastered a few tight situations," the former US Open finalist added.

"I prefer it when it’s hot like this rather than cool and damp. The grass gets slippery very quickly and it becomes more difficult to move around well. To be honest, I sometimes even get a little scared. When it’s this hot, I can move better. It’s not humid either, just dry heat."

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Fritz will seek the 9th title of his career against world No. 3 Alexander Zverev. This is a growing rivalry between two players who have remained in the top 10 for several seasons now. Fritz leads the head-to-head 7-5, including their last encounter on grass courts in the Round of 16 at Wimbledon 2024, a tight five-set victory.

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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