Jim Courier is very impressed with Taylor Fritz's progress in 2024. However, he thinks his compatriot needs to make some slight improvements to reach the top.
Fritz reached the final of the season-ending ATP Finals last week. He defeated Alexander Zverev 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 after a thrilling battle in the semifinal to set up a final meeting with Jannik Sinner.
Although Fritz played quite well in the final, it still did not come close to overcoming Sinner. The Italian completed a perfect week by beating him in straight sets to win the ATP Finals without dropping a set.
Fritz had to manage a very partisan crowd in Turin in favor of Sinner throughout the final, but that did not bother the American. He remembers playing in front of and taunting a more hostile crowd at the 2023 French Open.
Reaching the final of the prestigious year-end tournament was not Fritz's most impressive achievement this season. He progressed to his maiden Grand Slam final at the US Open after a five-set battle against Frances Tiafoe in the semifinal.
The US Open final ended in the same manner as the ATP Finals. Fritz also met Sinner at that stage in New York, and the year-end No. 1 proved to be far too good, triumphing in straight sets without too many issues.
Those two tournaments are a good indication of where Fritz's game is at. The 27-year-old has made significant improvements in 2024, demonstrated by finishing the season at a career-high ranking of No. 4.
However, his game is still slightly below the level of Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic when those players are at their very best. That means Fritz has more work ahead of him for the 2025 season.
Speaking on the Tennis Channel's Inside-In Podcast, Courier praised Fritz for his superb year and accepted that the match-up against Sinner will always be difficult for him regardless of his improvements.
“This year has been a major breakthrough for him – literally. This has been the year he’s become a real factor in the majors that he’s played in, to his credit. He’s really consistently putting himself into position."
"He obviously got outplayed in that US Open final. If you watched it, you saw that Sinner was able to do things from defence to offence that Taylor was unable to match."
"That will continue to be a difficult match-up, not just for Taylor but for most players on tour, but – similar to Zverev – if Taylor can keep putting himself into position."
The four-time Grand Slam champion mentioned one area Fritz had improved and one thing he believes his compatriot can work on.
"The guy’s improved his movement, he’s gotten stronger – you don’t have to question his fitness. Now it’s about maintaining what you’re doing well and making minor improvements on things."
“[He can] make that drop shot a little more fluid. That’s one thing that can be super effective for him that’s not natural, but practice, practice, practice, and suddenly that becomes a language you can speak.”
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