Several top players, including No. 1 Jannik Sinner and No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz, will be sitting out the upcoming Canadian Masters 1000 as they prioritize rest and recuperation before launching their respective US summer hardcourt seasons. But not Taylor Fritz.
The No. 1-ranked American in the world is enjoying one of the best seasons of his career and will take to the courts once again this week after a quarterfinal finish at last week’s Citi Open in Washington D.C. Speaking to the press ahead of the National Bank Open, Fritz revealed why he continues to play a hectic tennis season while others take time off.
Why Is Taylor Fritz Playing a Packed Schedule While Tennis Stars Skip Toronto?
Fritz revealed that he would have opted out of last week’s ATP 500 event in Washington D.C. if it weren’t necessary to meet his “quota” to compete in events of that category.
“With how busy my grass court schedule was, I would have probably opted out of it (the Citi Open),” Fritz admitted. “But there’s a new rule you have to play a certain amount of 500 events or you get a zero on your record.”
“Because I was injured in the year, I missed two 500s, so I actually had to play DC in order to give myself a chance to meet my 500 quota for the year,” Fritz continued, adding, “I don’t think that’s the best rule, because I was injured earlier this year, and yeah, I felt like I really could have used a rest week.”
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According to ATP rules, players are required to participate in at least four ATP 500 events , one of which must be played after the US Open. Fritz’s injury earlier in the season left him short of this requirement, forcing him to compete in Washington even though he would have preferred the rest.
“But yeah, being here I feel like it’s been enough time since Wimbledon to come back here,” he added. “I think a lot of the guys are obviously prioritizing the US Open, and they don’t want to come out here, play this, play Cincinnati, and be burnt out for the US Open. So it’s just priorities.”
The decision highlights the different approaches players take when balancing mandatory events with peak performance preparation.
How Does Fritz View His Chances Against Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz?
When asked about the dominance of Alcaraz and Sinner and how “beatable” he thought they were, Fritz admitted that “you can’t argue the fact that they (Sinner and Alcaraz) are outperforming, those two are outperforming the field.”
However, Fritz believes the duo can be defeated if a player finds the “right conditions.”
“I think a lot of it depends on the conditions,” said the World No. 4. “I think in the right conditions and the right, like if the court’s decent speed, I feel they’re both beatable.”
Fritz has recent experience testing this theory. He lost an incredibly close four-set match against Alcaraz in the semifinals of Wimbledon that was decided by the finest of margins in a 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) victory going Alcaraz’s way. The match showed Fritz can compete at the highest level when conditions suit his game.
What Has Made Fritz’s 2025 Season So Strong?
Fritz started the year on a strong note, helping the United States win the United Cup, winning four out of five matches. Despite this early success, his season has had its ups and downs.
At the Australian Open, Fritz was the fourth seed but lost to veteran Gaël Monfils in four sets in the third round. This was his earliest Grand Slam exit since Wimbledon 2023. Fritz also had poor results in Delray Beach and Dallas, exiting early from both tournaments.
At Indian Wells, he reached the fourth round for the fifth year in a row but lost to eventual champion Jack Draper in straight sets. The Miami Open provided better results, with Fritz reaching the semifinals for the first time, though he lost a close three-set semifinal to eventual champion Jakub Menšík.
His clay court season struggled at Roland Garros, where Fritz suffered a surprising first-round loss to Daniel Altmaier.
The grass season turned everything around. Fritz started his grass court campaign in red-hot form, winning the ATP 250 titles in Stuttgart and Eastbourne. This momentum carried into Wimbledon, where Fritz reached the semifinals for the first time, beating Karen Khachanov in the quarterfinals. He became the first American man to make the Wimbledon semifinals since 2018.
Though he lost to Carlos Alcaraz in four sets, the run established Fritz as a legitimate contender at the highest level of the sport.
