Carlos Alcaraz didn’t hold back at the Laver Cup last year when he took a direct shot at the ATP calendar: “Probably during the next few years, it’s going to be even more mandatory tournaments. Probably they are gonna kill us in some way.” And fast-forward to this season, his brutally honest words echo louder than ever. Ahead of the North American hard-court grind, Alcaraz, along with Jannik Sinner and even Novak Djokovic, skipped the Toronto Masters 1000, sending shockwaves through the tennis world. Now, with the US Open breathing down the necks of ATP stars, Taylor Fritz joins the chorus, echoing Alcaraz’s concerns as a bizarre rule twist fuels pre-Slam anxiety.
Just a week ago, Carlos Alcaraz made headlines by withdrawing from the Toronto Masters, citing recovery after his grueling Wimbledon final against Jannik Sinner. “Toronto comes just too soon for me,” Alcaraz admitted, having fallen just short of a third consecutive All England Club crown on July 13. Fellow stars quickly echoed his absence Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, and Jack Draper, ranked World No. 5, who also pulled out, Draper sidelined with an arm injury.
Now, with the Toronto Open kicking off, Taylor Fritz gears up for his opener tomorrow. But before he swings a racket, he’s already raising red flags, echoing Alcaraz’s scheduling worries, especially as a bizarre rule twist adds tension right before the US Open storm.
Taylor Fritz didn’t hold back at the pre-tournament press conference ahead of the Toronto Open. When asked how he felt about fellow top seeds skipping the event after Wimbledon, the World No. 4 laid it out plain and simple. “Yeah, I mean this is a tough part of the year because there’s not really any weeks that make sense to take off,” he said.
Just days earlier, Fritz had taken to the courts at the Citi Open in Washington, where his quarterfinal exit wasn’t the only story. The tournament marked Venus Williams’ long-awaited return after 16 months. But Fritz, fresh off a loaded grass season, admitted something few would: “You know, it’s 1000s and to be honest, last week — and don’t get me wrong, I really like DC and I like playing the tournament — but with how busy my grass schedule was, I would have probably opted out of it.”
Aug 26, 2024; Flushing, NY, USA; Taylor Fritz (USA) celebrates after match point against Camilo Ugo Carabelli (ARG)(not pictured) in a men’s singles match on day one of the 2024 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
So why did he push his body through the wear and tear? The reason, he revealed, wasn’t about ranking points or fanfare, it was because of a rule. A rule he finds downright unfair. “But there’s a new rule, you have to play a certain amount of 500 events or you get a zero on your record,” Fritz said. That single mandate forced his hand. Despite battling an abdominal injury since February, he had no choice but to show up in DC to meet the ATP’s annual requirement.
In fact, the Madrid Open earlier this year was one of the many events where Fritz pushed through pain, trying to shake off the rust from injury. Since June, he’s played five tournaments across three different countries, clocking 18 matches and winning 15, grinding through two surfaces while the tour never slowed down. “And because I was injured early in the year, I missed 2 500 [events]. So, I actually had to play DC in order to give myself a chance to meet my like 500 quota for the year. So, I’m going be honest. I don’t think that’s the best rule because I was injured early this year and I felt like I really could have used a rest week.”
The calendar hasn’t been kind to anyone, but especially not to players dealing with physical setbacks. Fritz was also quick to defend those who chose rest over the ruthless hard court swing. “I think a lot of the guys are obviously prioritizing US Open and they don’t want to, you know, come out here, play this, play Cincy, be in the, you know, be burned out for the [US] Open,” he explained.
Still, Fritz remains a rare bright spot for American fans as the North American hard court season builds to its crescendo. “So, you know, it’s just priorities. But for me, obviously being, you know, from North America, it’s a swing that I enjoy playing and, you know, I’m excited to be here. But, yeah, I see for some of the European guys how it can be, you know, it’s a lot and they want to prioritize probably the US Open.”
Now preparing to take center stage in Toronto, Fritz stands not only as a contender but as a voice of reason, shedding light on the high-stakes balancing act that is modern ATP tennis.
Taylor Fritz ignites American hopes with bold US Open claim
In a recent sit-down with Paolo Vannini of Corriere Dello Sport, former World No. 19 Renzo Furlan didn’t mince words. He painted a bold picture of tennis’s changing guard, spotlighting Jannik Sinner as “Djokovic 2.0.” His praise was sharp and direct: “Sinner is Djokovic 2.0, he and Alcaraz have more technical means than the others and, above all, a desire to emulate each other that leads them to improve continuously.” It’s a truth echoing louder with every tournament, Sinner and Alcaraz are rewriting the rules of the game.
As the US Open looms large on the horizon, Furlan didn’t shy away from naming his frontrunners. “The US Open? Jannik and Carlos are favorites,” he stated without flinching. Still, he acknowledged the growing American storm ready to crash the party. “I expect a lot from the Americans, Paul and Fritz,” he added. And in a nod to rising youth, he declared: “and I expect the baby Fonseca to express himself at a high level.”
For American tennis, that endorsement is more than just kind words, it’s a rallying cry. With Ben Shelton’s explosiveness, Tommy Paul’s resilience, and Taylor Fritz’s consistency, Team USA stands ready to shake things up. Fritz, in particular, is under the spotlight. Despite falling to Sinner in last year’s US Open final, his 16-9 record in New York reflects grit and promise.
Now, with Toronto in sight and top seeds like Djokovic and Alcaraz out of the mix, Fritz has a golden window. Can he seize the momentum?
With a high-stakes opener against Spain’s Roberto Carballés Baena tomorrow, the stage is set, and Taylor Fritz knows the time is now.
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