Taylor Fritz: “The First Thing I Think of Is My Place in Miami”

3 days ago
4 min read

We caught up with Taylor Fritz in Miami as part of Miami Living’s tennis interview series, where the tournament experience feels less transient and more personal. With a home base in the city, Fritz discusses how familiarity with the setting, especially the nuances of center court, shapes his preparation, routines, and mindset as one of the most consistent American players on tour.

BY MARKIN ABRAS | PHOTOS TAYLOR FRITZ/INSTAGRAM

Taylor Fritz turned professional in 2015 and immediately delivered on his junior promise. That same year, he won the boys’ singles title at the US Open, confirming his status as one of the top American prospects. In early 2016, at 18, he reached his first ATP final in Memphis, becoming the youngest American man to reach an ATP final since Michael Chang. Raised in Rancho Santa Fe, California, Fritz grew up in a tennis household. His mother, Kathy May, was a top-10 player, and his father, Guy Fritz, is a coach. The sport was not an experiment. It was part of daily life.

When the tour heads to South Florida for the Miami Open, the setting feels different for him. Asked what comes to mind when he thinks about Miami, his answer is immediate and personal. “Honestly, the first thing I think of is just my place, just being at my place in Miami.” In a sport built on constant travel, that sense of having a base matters.

Miami also demands technical adjustments that fans may not notice. Fritz is clear about one priority. “I think a big thing for me in Miami is trying to get as much time on the center court as possible,” he says. “For me, I’ve always found that center court plays pretty different from the other courts.” He explains that many of the outside courts are permanent, while center court is laid down each year. “I always find that it plays quite differently from the other courts.”

Because of his ranking, he often expects to play in the main stadium. “If I get an idea that I’m going to be playing my matches on center court, which normally I have been, which is good, that I’m in the position I’m in, because I can kind of assume that I’m going to be playing on center court, I try to get as much time as possible on it because I find the conditions there can play different from the other courts.” For him, preparation in Miami is specific and deliberate.

His first ATP title came at Eastbourne International in 2019. That same season, he won the Atlanta Open. The defining moment of his career so far came in 2022, when he captured the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, defeating Rafael Nadal in the final to win his first ATP Masters 1000 title. He later added titles in Tokyo in 2022, Delray Beach in 2023, and further grass-court success in Eastbourne in 2022 and 2024. He has also been a regular representative for the United States in Davis Cup competition and a consistent top-ranked American on tour.

Tournament life also depends on rest, even if his routine is not perfect. Fritz is honest about it. “I have a lot of really bad sleep habits, to be honest, but it’s just stuff I’ve done my entire life,” he admits. “I hydrate a ton before bed. I take some sleep melatonin gummies.” Temperature matters to him. “I like it really cold.” He even gives credit to his setup at home. “I gotta shout out my Eight Sleep. I have it in Miami because I got my place there. So that always helps a lot too.”

Then comes what he calls his worst habit. “The worst habit that I do is I like to put on a show that’s not super exciting, like a cartoon or an anime. I’ve got an AirPod in one ear and I just watch it and I go to sleep. I always go to sleep watching something on my iPad.” It is not textbook sports science, but it is consistent.

Asked what might surprise fans about him, he pauses. “I’m not sure. This question always stumps me. I don’t know. I really don’t know what would surprise people.” The hesitation feels genuine.

Off the court, the routine stays simple. “I like to spend time with friends, family, play video games. Honestly, I sleep a lot. I golf sometimes.” There is no elaborate escape plan. Just downtime.

At the Miami Open, Fritz’s best result came in 2025, when he reached the semifinals.

Taylor Fritz stats:

Age: 28 (28 October 1997)

Birth place: Rancho Santa Fe, California

Career high: World No. 4

Singles titles: 10

Miami Open Best: Semifinals in 2025

Prize Money: $29,533,384

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