The ATP Award season is in full swing, and the names of nominees are out, including the Most Improved Player Award, and Taylor Fritz was disappointed not to find his name among those nominated.
Fritz has had a massive 2022 season overall, finishing the year with 49 wins, which is 13 wins more than last year. He also had fewer losses this year than last year and recorded some big results this year with a couple of trophies as well as a ranking improvement.
Select highlights include winning the Indian Wells Open by beating Rafael Nadal in the final. He actually became the first player to beat Nadal in a tennis match in 2022, as the Spaniard was undefeated until that match.
Other highlights include winning the Eastbourne International as well as making the Wimbledon quarter-final. Fritz also won the Japan Open in Tokyo, so overall, it’s just been a very impressive season for him.
Clearly, it was the best season of his life, in which he finally broke into the Top 20, finishing the year as world number 9 after making the ATP Finals semi-finals as well.
With that sort of year, the American player clearly expected to be among the nominees for Most Improved Player of the Year. He would deserve it because he made a huge step in his career, arguably the hardest ever, which is transitioning from a good player to a great player.
Still, after being snubbed a nomination for the most improved award, he expressed his thoughts on social media.
"Feel like I could’ve been nominated for most improved.... not saying I should win it or anything crazy like that but maybe just a nom."
His current coach, Michael Russell, who was nominated for Coach of the Year, backed his player's comments.
"Disappointing to see that you weren’t nominated."
Former player Kim Clijsters also backed his comments, pointing out that Fritz deserved a nomination. "Definitely."