"Taught me to not care about other people's opinions": Fritz on lessons learned from having a child at 19 while juggling rising career
ATPSaturday, 19 August 2023 at 07:00
America’s tennis star Taylor Fritz has stated that having a kid
at the age of 19 taught him some lessons.
The 25-year-old has been is currently the world number nine
in the ATP rankings and has won six titles since turning pro eight years back.
Fritz was quoted in a report where he stated how becoming a
father at such a young age taught him to not be concerned about others’ opinions.
"I think [having a kid] taught me a lot of lessons
about time management,” he said while talking to Hauteliving. “It also taught
me to not care so much about other people's opinions. I was always very
concerned about how my career would be affected, the things people were saying,
and things of that nature.
"I learned one, not to care, and two, just to handle my
business and be as productive as possible. I mean, I do have more things to
manage now, and I definitely had to grow up fast, but it was always going to be
like that anyway. I was traveling the world when I was 17 to play tennis, so
regardless of my own personal things, you have to grow up pretty fast in this
sport anyway.”
Talking about his schedule, Fritz revealed how he has to
sacrifice his own life to compete at the highest level.
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"I worked really hard for a really long time for this.
And, for a really long time, I really have given up a normal life — though I
probably held on to [normalcy] longer than most other players did,” he said. “I
made the decision that I was going to dedicate everything I had to tennis.
"Now I’m traveling 10 months out of the year. I don't
get to be home much. I don't get to hang out with friends a lot. My friends
that I'm the closest with are other players traveling with me on the
tour."
"When I’m home, I'm training — spending half of my day
in the gym or on the court, trying to practice, trying to get better — because
if you don't, if you actually take time off when you’re not in a tournament,
you won't be able to compete on the same level. So, even when you're off,
you're not really off, and that's kind of just how it is. It's tough, but I've
just accepted it.”
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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