"What I did so well in the juniors, what if I didn't make it?" - Taylor Fritz recalls his fears of turning pro at age 17
ATP
Taylor Fritz has said that the belief about being the best in the world is key to turning pro at a tender age.
Currently ranked eighth in the world, the 25-year-old played his first match on the ATP tour at the ATP 250 Nottingham Open, beating Pablo Carreno Busta. The following year, Fritz made his Grand Slam main draw debut at the Australian Open, where he lost to compatriot Jack Sock in five sets. At his next stop in Memphis, the then World No. 145 reached the final before reaching the Acapulco 500 quarterfinals to break into the top 100.
Read also
Fritz brought up his first top-ten win and first win at a Major in 2017. The next year, he broke into the top 50 before winning his first singles title at Eastbourne in 2019. A first ATP 500 final followed in 2020 before Fritz became the top American player in 2021. Last year, he won his first ATP Masters and 500 titles, broke into the top ten and debuted in the ATP Finals in Turin.
In an interview with Team Optimum, Taylor Fritz opened up on the challenges of transitioning from the junior tour to the senior one:
"Turning pro at 17, I would say, is every top junior's fear. What I did so well in the juniors, what if I don't make it. I felt like a switch flip as soon as I turned pro, and I was like 'now it's all real'. Everything I did before was awesome, but now it's like 'this is ... this is it'."
Read also
The American provided a sneak peek of his mentality - his belief that he can be the best in the world:
"I've always known like, how can you ever be the best in the world, if you don't truly, like, believe you can be. You're never going to accomplish all the goals if you want to if you actually have that belief that you can do it."
Taylor Fritz was last seen in action at the 2023 Australian Open, where he made a second-round exit following defeat to Alexei Popyrin.
Growing up in a household where soccer was king, my earliest memories are filled with chants from packed stadiums and the rhythm of a ball being passed across neighborhood streets. But somewhere along the way, the quiet elegance and raw emotion of tennis pulled me in. What began as a curiosity became a lifelong passion; not just for the sport itself, but for the stories it tells: of grit, of heartbreak, of improbable comebacks and human resilience.
As a tennis writer, I bring the observational lens of someone who didn’t grow up in the sport, but fell in love with it as an outsider; a perspective that lets me see both its technical beauty and its emotional depth. Over the years working with TennisUpToDate, I’ve had the privilege of reaching more than 3.5 million readers worldwide, with one of my features ranking among the site’s top three articles.
With a background in storytelling and a creative mind always searching for meaning beyond the scoreboard, I aim to craft narratives that go deeper than results and rankings. Whether it’s a rising star breaking through or a veteran fighting off Father Time, I try to capture the heartbeat behind the headlines.
claps 0visitors 0
Just In
Popular News
Latest Comments
- Either Lena has a chronic internal ailment (i.e., colitis, enteritis, Crohn's, or some type of lower abdomen issue) -- or she is once again dealing with 'Vukovitis'. Mental stress can indeed cause lower body pains. No matter... whatever is truly going on sucks. "Virus" excuse is getting a bit old -- and often -- at this point.
mandoist09-11-2026 - Ironically, Martina became a U.S. Citizen about the same time as the Orange Convicted Felon & Abuser was just beginning on his road to losing all Daddy's Millions!!
mandoist09-11-2026 - "Another fresh start is in the cards." Thanks for the Humor!! I'm guessing this is the minimum one can do to keep all your sponsors hanging-on in perpetuity?
mandoist09-11-2026 - Vukov is doing this to Lena... AGAIN!!!!! WTA's autonomous collective should be dismantled for allowing Vukov to re-emerge from his hand-slapping suspension. Just ask WTA employees how that's been going lately as they witness his continued verbal abuses. Women's Pro Tennis should start over.
mandoist08-11-2026 - Can't help but suspect Vukov is back to his old self again. Thank you, WTA. Perhaps you can give them a "Battling Couple of the Year Award 2026" ??
mandoist08-11-2026 - Wtf? Why is there no reason? And what about the men's?Bel08-11-2026
- One step by another step -- WTA continues to 'lose the plot'. Too many hi-tech microphones being installed at most venues!!! Remove them (especially those along the hallways, sidewalks, and pathways throughout the venues. Not to mention (most of all) remove the mic's from the Players/Coaches Box.
mandoist06-11-2026 - Enough of her bullshit. Go marry someone.
mandoist06-11-2026 - Don't you just love this young lady!? We fans often expect athletes to be supermen and superwomen, often forgetting that they WILL GET TIRED! I love Alex's perspective. Tiredness for an athlete should never be viewed as a negative, especially if you are healthy, taking care of your body and mental health and putting in the work. What a mature perspective. Good for you, Alex!Rapunzel05-11-2026
- Jess is absolutely correct! But the disrespect is a trait I have noticed in most of the Russian players. Mirra is good but very immature and lacks humility. Conceivable needs to get a handle on that!Rapunzel05-11-2026








