Taylor Fritz: Sampras Parallels

[Luxilon Borg]

Taylor Fritz, IMO, has a lot in common with the 19 year old Pete Sampras

-natural, easy, power

-relaxed, confident, unfazed demeanor

-the recipient of excellent coaching during development
( I watched him train on a number of occasions here)

-Making an initial run in an indoor tournament, playing a top ten player
he has practiced with numerous times.Sampras famously trained with Lendl
at his house in CT, then faced Lendl at the Phillie indoor event in 1990, Fritz
practiced numerous times with Nish at Michael Chang's house in CA.

The differences are obvious, two handed backhand vs a single hander, Sampras was
far quicker.

I do see a technical flaw in the Fritz forehand...he tucks his elbow in behind his body..but some how make sup for it with racket head speed..but I believe top players can exploit this.

Overall, an impressive young gun.

-

 

[Kieran]

I look forward to seeing him. Sampras was tennis deity, with a temperament that was part-ice, part-steel. I like the idea of Fritz being of "relaxed, confident, unfazed demeanor". It'd be great to see a youngster with these qualities rise to the top. But it's early days!

 

[Luxilon Borg]

I look forward to seeing him. Sampras was tennis deity, with a temperament that was part-ice, part-steel. I like the idea of Fritz being of "relaxed, confident, unfazed demeanor". It'd be great to see a youngster with these qualities rise to the top. But it's early days!

they even look alike.

 

[herios]

I look forward to seeing him. Sampras was tennis deity, with a temperament that was part-ice, part-steel. I like the idea of Fritz being of "relaxed, confident, unfazed demeanor". It'd be great to see a youngster with these qualities rise to the top. But it's early days!

It is very early. But signs are very good. A lot of improvement he will need to do, but he is also a quick learner. I warned everyone a few weeks ago, that he is my pick of all the wave below 22y.
This guy knows how to save break points, keep his cool and close the deal.
I listened carefully this week to Jimmy Arias, who I like a lot, because he focuses a lot on the technical aspect when he comments. Footwork needs improvement, he is one step too late on short balls which could be put away, volley technique lacks.
With 3 events on ATP tor level, his record is already positive 5 wins to 3 losses (Feli Lopez, Sock and Nishikori).

 

[herios]

I look forward to seeing him. Sampras was tennis deity, with a temperament that was part-ice, part-steel. I like the idea of Fritz being of "relaxed, confident, unfazed demeanor". It'd be great to see a youngster with these qualities rise to the top. But it's early days!

they even look alike.

And the physical resemblance to Sampras is uncanny....

 

[Luxilon Borg]

I look forward to seeing him. Sampras was tennis deity, with a temperament that was part-ice, part-steel. I like the idea of Fritz being of "relaxed, confident, unfazed demeanor". It'd be great to see a youngster with these qualities rise to the top. But it's early days!

It is very early. But signs are very good. A lot of improvement he will need to do, but he is also a quick learner. I warned everyone a few weeks ago, that he is my pick of all the wave below 22y.
This guy knows how to save break points, keep his cool and close the deal.
I listened carefully this week to Jimmy Arias, who I like a lot, because he focuses a lot on the technical aspect when he comments. Footwork needs improvement, he is one step too late on short balls which could be put away, volley technique lacks.
With 3 events on ATP tor level, his record is already positive 5 wins to 3 losses (Feli Lopez, Sock and Nishikori).

Good points. He is always going to have issue with agility and speed as he is a bit pigeon toed..reminds me a LOT of Magnus Larsson. What he does have is reach, will help offset that gangliness. There is a bit of Safins game in him too.

Could we be seeing Zverev/Fritz slam finals?

 

[Luxilon Borg]

I look forward to seeing him. Sampras was tennis deity, with a temperament that was part-ice, part-steel. I like the idea of Fritz being of "relaxed, confident, unfazed demeanor". It'd be great to see a youngster with these qualities rise to the top. But it's early days!

You could tell me he was Pete's nephew and I would not blink.
they even look alike.

And the physical resemblance to Sampras is uncanny....

 

[Luxilon Borg]

I wouldn't be surprised if Fritz is part Asian. Coming from Los Angeles, he could be. Sampras presented his 18th birthday cake to him. Cool!

He could improve by strengthening his core. He loses balance quite often on his shots. I do appreciate his emotional stability, and hope he can rise to the top.

FYI...he had a huge growth spurt between 14- and 16 and is still learning how to use that 6 foot 4 frame!

 

[Riotbeard]

I just watched highlights from the Nishikori match, and I was very pleasantly surprised. Fritz has a nice game at 18. He has weapons, etc. If he can play consistently, he should easily make it into the top 50 by the end of this year.

 

[nehmeth]

Pete was a great mover... whenever he needed to be. His foot speed, coordination, vertical jump - I jsut don't see that as present or future parts of Taylor's skill set. But he will grow into his body and the coordination will improve. We'll see how resistant his frame is to injury.

 

[Kieran]

The kid is 6'4", that's quite a height. But the game is trending that way, maybe. Just checked the high achievers, and Pete, Roger and Rafa are all 6'1", Novak is 6'2", while Bjorn was 5'11". I'm not sure if these giant frames are built for endurance and mobility...

 

[Luxilon Borg]

Pete was a great mover... whenever he needed to be. His foot speed, coordination, vertical jump - I jsut don't see that as present or future parts of Taylor's skill set. But he will grow into his body and the coordination will improve. We'll see how resistant his frame is to injury.

Of course, there is no way he can be as agile and fleet of foot as Pete..but he has far, far better backhand and return of serve and he is going to hit big off both sides..his defense was better than I expected I must say. He also just hammers that serve.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

The kid is 6'4", that's quite a height. But the game is trending that way, maybe. Just checked the high achievers, and Pete, Roger and Rafa are all 6'1", Novak is 6'2", while Bjorn was 5'11". I'm not sure if these giant frames are built for endurance and mobility...

Historically, nobody over 6 foot 2 has dominated, except for Becker, on and off. Or gone injury free.

Safin was the last great hope for tall players. And T Bird prob will never will a slam.

 

[Kieran]

Pete was a great mover... whenever he needed to be. His foot speed, coordination, vertical jump - I jsut don't see that as present or future parts of Taylor's skill set. But he will grow into his body and the coordination will improve. We'll see how resistant his frame is to injury.

Of course, there is no way he can be as agile and fleet of foot as Pete..but he has far, far better backhand and return of serve and he is going to hit big off both sides..his defense was better than I expected I must say. He also just hammers that serve.

Pete had the delicious knack of slouching his way through a set, winning nothing on his opponents serve...until about 4-4, when he'd suddenly unleash a barrage of returns, and break. He was energy conservation incarnate...

 

[nehmeth]

Pete was a great mover... whenever he needed to be. His foot speed, coordination, vertical jump - I jsut don't see that as present or future parts of Taylor's skill set. But he will grow into his body and the coordination will improve. We'll see how resistant his frame is to injury.

Of course, there is no way he can be as agile and fleet of foot as Pete..but he has far, far better backhand and return of serve and he is going to hit big off both sides..his defense was better than I expected I must say. He also just hammers that serve.

None of that will matter if he can't stay free of injury. He's at that threshold height wise and he may not be done growing yet.

I'm not sure how much of a fan you were of Pete, but his forehand was just so big that his backhand took a backseat. It was by no means a poor backhand. This kid has a good two hander, but far better than Pete's? :nono

 

[herios]

I wouldn't be surprised if Fritz is part Asian.

I would be surprised. His parents are both former professional tennis players:
Kathy May (was ranked as high as 10 in the world) and father Guy Fritz. His father's name is totally German, but of course I have no clue what origin his grandparents were.

 

[herios]

https://youtu.be/41XlufRgaBE?t=202

 

[Luxilon Borg]

Pete was a great mover... whenever he needed to be. His foot speed, coordination, vertical jump - I jsut don't see that as present or future parts of Taylor's skill set. But he will grow into his body and the coordination will improve. We'll see how resistant his frame is to injury.

Of course, there is no way he can be as agile and fleet of foot as Pete..but he has far, far better backhand and return of serve and he is going to hit big off both sides..his defense was better than I expected I must say. He also just hammers that serve.

None of that will matter if he can't stay free of injury. He's at that threshold height wise and he may not be done growing yet.

I'm not sure how much of a fan you were of Pete, but his forehand was just so big that his backhand took a backseat. It was by no means a poor backhand. This kid has a good two hander, but far better than Pete's? :nono

Absolutely far better than Pete's. He just bone crushes it.

Pete's forehand was lethal on certain courts in certain positions. But it was also very sloppy at times.
He lit up the stat sheet.

Where he was a genius was in transition game. His volleys were just superb, if not close to the best ever, and of course, he was the best server of all time.

However, from the baseline there is not a single player in the current top ten that would not out hit him.

But then again, he would not play that game with them.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

Another similarity..and this drove me nuts..he does not wear wrist bands like Sampras..I can't stand the wiping the sweat with the shirt and forearm...Arghhhhhhh!