THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 30, 2026

Taylor Fritz

Press Conference

T. FRITZ/D. Lajovic

6-3, 6-4, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Taylor, good to get that first win under your belt?

TAYLOR FRITZ: Yeah, for sure. I think first round Grand Slam, always a bit scary. So to go out, play good tennis, get it done in three, it's a great way to start.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. You normally play Eastbourne the week before here. How different did it feel going in without matches in the last week? I know you had a few in Germany, didn't you?

TAYLOR FRITZ: Yeah, obviously my confidence should be high based off of, you know, how the grass court season has gone for me. But probably a little more nervy than previous years, because I get in that rhythm. I win Eastbourne, I come here, and it's like just playing matches almost every day.

It's almost like I know there is no doubt when I step on the court that I'm going to play to a certain level, I'm going to play well. I just bring a bit more confidence. I like to play.

A bit more nervy, kind of more similar to what it feels like when I play US Open, play Australia. I take the week off before I play those ones as well, but was able to play good tennis.

Q. Now that you have sort of entered the fashion on-court conversation, if you could talk about your stance on that, and whether or not you think it's good for the sport or why you think it's good for the sport.

TAYLOR FRITZ: I don't know where I stand on it. I think Boss came to me with the idea of wanting to do it, and so we did it. You know, I wasn't 100% sure how I felt, but after seeing the pictures after the match, I feel like it looked all right.

Yeah, I don't know. I think people are going to be torn. I think some people are going to like it and some people are going to think that anyone who is dressed up to walk out is doing too much.

Q. Will you do it again?

TAYLOR FRITZ: Probably, I think (smiling). Yeah, I think so.

Q. You have been pretty outspoken about balls in the past. Curious how you find the balls here.

TAYLOR FRITZ: I have never had a complaint about the Slazenger balls, to be honest. I like them. I think they have always, I don't know, I feel like they have always felt good for grass. Maybe it's just because we have been using them for so long you get used to them.

But I feel like there is a good kind of balance of everything when I'm playing. I think that, yeah, I think they're solid at least for grass. I don't know how much of that is just like I like the grass or the ball, but I have never had complaints with it. I think they've always felt good.

Q. A followup to the prior question, does it make you more nervous at all walking out...

TAYLOR FRITZ: Oh, absolutely, yeah. Maybe not more nervous, but you show up in a full outfit and get snipped in the first round, you kind of look stupid. You look really stupid, honestly.

Q. It's like with Naomi, when she's been doing her big fashion productions, this year especially, so I'm just wondering how you fell on that. You're not someone who is seeking attention mid-tournament in that way usually.

TAYLOR FRITZ: No, I really like to keep it low key. But I was having this conversation with Frances the other night, because he always had a bit of an outfit, as well. We were making the joke, like, you can't walk out with an outfit and go out in the first round. It just looks so bad (smiling).

Q. Was there any hesitation last minute as you were putting on these various garments today?

TAYLOR FRITZ: No, Boss did this whole thing. They're my sponsor. They wanted me to do it. I thought the outfit looked good. So yeah, I mean, we were going to do it either way. I couldn't really back out of it (smiling).

Q. May I ask how involved in the process you are in terms of the fashion side?

TAYLOR FRITZ: They asked me, they came to me with a markup and asked me if I liked it. If I didn't like it, you know...

Honestly, for the first thing they sent me, I thought it was pretty solid. Then just I guess the fitting process and me saying, like, If we're going to do pants, they need to be able to come off easily on the court. That's what I did.

I was unsure, game-time decision on the scarf. I wasn't sure about it, but I thought it looked all right.

Q. We know it's a very individual sport, but we're also hearing about how tight a group you are as U.S. players. How much does that benefit you and what do you see that brings to your game?

TAYLOR FRITZ: I don't know if the fact that we're all very close benefits our games. I think it's just the fact that we all kind of push each other and have, like, this healthy rivalry that we have had for so long. I think it motivates all the guys. When one guy does something, the rest of us think we can do it too. I think that's pushed all of us for a long time and kind of set the standard.

Someone does something now, everyone else does it as well. I think that's helped us grow a lot as players throughout the years.

Q. In terms of level, you felt yours has increased as a result?

TAYLOR FRITZ: I think so. I think everyone has. I think when we were really young, I felt very motivated and pushed by, like, someone like Frances. And I think for a long time, the other guys - I mean, they've said it - they were motivated and pushed to chase after some of the results and things that I was doing. I mean, they have known me forever. If I'm doing it, they know that they can, as well.

We have all definitely grown off of each other.

Q. Every player wants to get in the zone on the court. How do you do that? How difficult is it to do that? How often would you say you find that feeling?

TAYLOR FRITZ: I mean, for me, it's just about having that confidence and that feeling like I'm striking the ball well on the practice court. So it's a lot about the preparation.

When I feel like my preparation has been good and everything feels right and I have done what I need to do, then I have a much easier time of kind of getting into that zone on the court.

Yeah, I mean, it's a great feeling when I'm, you know, I don't have to think too much, and all of the right thoughts are just kind of, right thoughts and right decisions are just kind of coming to me.

Yeah, I think for me a lot of it just has to do with the confidence and the preparation, feeling like I have done everything I need to do.

Q. Are you watching soccer? Are you going to watch Bosnia against United States?

TAYLOR FRITZ: Yeah, I have been watching a lot of the World Cup when the time has allowed it. A lot of USA's prior games have been playing, like, late at night Europe time when I have matches early the next day. So I haven't really been able to watch. But yeah, I'm planning on it. I'm a big fan.

Q. Can you talk about the challenges that you face as a father on the tour? Having Serena Williams back, does it bring attention to the issues of being a mom on the tour as well and highlight things better than they are now?

TAYLOR FRITZ: Yeah, I mean, I think for me, it's just really tough to be away. I have to travel and play, and I try to just make the most of the time that I can spend with my son when I'm home, you know, and do the best that I can, FaceTiming and all that.

I would absolutely love to be able to bring him on the road and have him travel with me, but there is just certain things that are stopping that from happening. So it's not really up to me.

Yeah, I mean, I can't really speak for Serena, but I think it's awesome what she's doing. I see her playing tennis with, you know, with her daughter. I mean, it's really cool. I think it's cool as well if her daughter can come and watch her play tournaments live. I think that's awesome.

Q. Talk about No. 1 Court. You have obviously played a lot on No. 1 and on Centre. What's the difference between the two, and which of those two do you prefer?

TAYLOR FRITZ: Honestly, until I play on Centre this year, I probably couldn't tell you, to be honest. I can't remember last year. Sometimes when I played on Centre and played on 1, I actually get it mixed up. I can't remember certain matches if I was on 1 or on Centre. I think they're pretty similar (smiling).

Q. What are your thoughts on Larry Scott? How well do you know him in terms of his leadership with the players' efforts to pressure the slams?

TAYLOR FRITZ: I mean, we've talked. We have been in meetings and stuff like that, but nothing crazy. I can't really elaborate too much. I haven't spent a lot of personal time with Larry.

Q. Have you known him for a while?

TAYLOR FRITZ: A good amount of time. But like I said, I don't know him personally enough to really elaborate.

Q. Random question. When you're playing a tournament, how much are you talking to your mom and dad, who are both obviously tennis experts in their own way, about what's going on with your game?

TAYLOR FRITZ: Honestly, not too often. I feel like when I talk to my dad, I need to, like, pencil out a 45-minutes to an hour, like, conversation, which I don't really have a lot of the time.

Typically I'll call my dad after I have either won a tournament or I've done really well, so I don't need to listen to any complaints about the game. We can just have a very pleasant call (smiling), and I can kind of just, like, brag a little bit. But, I mean, that's pretty much it.

I feel like my mom doesn't really try to coach me up too much either. I think both my parents are really good at just watching, spectating, and telling me what I'm doing well. That's about it.