MUBADALA DC OPEN

August 1, 2026

Taylor Fritz

Press Conference

T. FRITZ/B. Nakashima

6-3, 3-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Taylor, congrats on making the final here in D.C. How tough of a match was that today against Brandon?

TAYLOR FRITZ: Yeah, I mean, it was really tough. He's serving really well, playing really well. I've played Brandon lots of times. I thought his level was really high, and it kind of just came down to me making the most of, like, the few chances that I got and then just staying solid on my serve.

It was a match of just very tight margins.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. It seemed like in that third set you were doing a great job of anticipating on the return and doing a great job, especially on the second serve, which you alluded to after the match. Is that something you felt in that third set that you were getting a better idea of where his serve placement was, and that made is easier for you?

TAYLOR FRITZ: To be honest, it was just after the first set, I felt like I'd be better off just kind of guessing on his first serve, which is something that's not my favorite thing to do. I like to use my reach and try to anticipate people's serves and kind of just say, if they hit the spot, too good, but if they miss the spot with my reach, I'll be able to be on it.

It took me some time to just get used to, like, and feel comfortable maybe just picking sides, because that's not something I normally do.

But Brandon is statistically the best spot server on tour. There was a thing that came out maybe, like, I don't even know, sometime during the grass-court season of the players' placements and speeds. He was No. 1 on placement, and I was No. 2 on placement. It didn't really surprise me. He's such a great spot server.

I kind of came to the conclusion after the first set, even though I won it, he was 90% on first-serve points won. If he makes his first -- he's either going to miss the first serve, or he's going to put it close to the line, so I might as well just guess. I felt like I started to maybe get on it a bit more in the third, but really wanted to make sure I made him play the second-serve points.

Q. Third ATP 500 final for you this year. I know obviously you're going to be facing a different opponent than you have the first 500s, but do you use those matches as learning experiences at all, or different opponent, you don't really focus on those at all?

TAYLOR FRITZ: It's just whatever. It's a final. I'm not going to think about the others. I think the fact that I've already lost two, it makes me just, like, whatever. Like, I'm pretty relaxed for this one.

To be honest, I don't really treat a 500 final, I guess, any different than, like, a 250. The feeling of wanting to win the tournament when you get to the end of it, it's all the same. I've played plenty of finals in my life.

Q. I'll ask you about that opportunity in terms of it being here at this tournament. You've had deep runs previously. Not all the way to the final. What would it mean to potentially win this and maybe jump-start the hard-court season, given what's ahead of you here in the next few weeks?

TAYLOR FRITZ: Yeah, it would be great. It already is a great start to my US Open series and hard-court swing. Yeah, I mean, a title would be even better. This will be my fourth final just this year, so I'd like to get a title. I'd like to have that confidence to kind of go all the way.

I think something I talked about the other day that the tour is very rewarding rankings and points-wise of, you know, going all the way and not so much losing in semis and finals. So I really want to get this one done.

Q. Potential opponents, whether Jodar or Alejandro, just thoughts on those of what potentially awaits tomorrow?

TAYLOR FRITZ: Yeah, it's very, very different. Obviously one big serving lefty and then one guy who is just I feel like a very all-around, solid player. I played Jodar earlier in the year in Delray. I thought he played well, but I think he's grown a lot as a player since then.

Then Tabilo is very fired up and riding this momentum I think from the match the other night. It's one of those things, when you get into the final, kind of anything can happen. I don't think it matters too much who I'm playing.

Q. One-follow-up on Jodar. 19 years old, the year that he has had to this point doesn't always come that easily for kids in their first full year on tour. What from afar or up close has maybe impressed you?

TAYLOR FRITZ: I'll be honest, I don't know. The whole time he was really kind of tearing it up I was injured. I wasn't paying attention to tennis. I just saw the results.

So I was obviously very impressed with the results, but obviously he played incredible the whole clay-court season. Don't really think he played much on -- any on grass.

Yeah, I couldn't tell you. I was so disconnected from tennis during that time.

Q. A little bit of an off-beat question. You played Alejandro Davidovich Fokina last year. He eventually went to the final, and we asked him, and he talked about his love of Chipotle and how that fueled him through the week. It's obviously one of your sponsors. Is that part of your routine this week, and how has that been, the partnership with them, and kind of more exposure on a domestic level for a lot of fans here in the States?

TAYLOR FRITZ: It's great. Yeah, I eat it all the time. I'm not even kidding. I ate it before my match today.

Q. What's your go-to?

TAYLOR FRITZ: I've been changing it up. I've been going white rice, chicken, no beans, and then just sour cream and cheese, and then I put some of the hot sauce on it.

My bowl before was a little heavier. That's like my, I don't know, like, cutting bowl. I try to be in good shape (laughing).

Yeah, I think I had it every week -- every day this week on my off days for lunch, and then whenever I play a night match, I'll have it for lunch before the night match.

Q. You're up 4-2 in the third, down 40-30. That 27-shot rally, you and Brandon are going back and forth. When you see that shot go into the net and you get that hold, what are your immediate emotions in that moment?

TAYLOR FRITZ: I'm just feeling good, because obviously after kind of a brutal point like that, we're both going to be -- it's humid out there. You know, that's a pretty tough rally. Both of us gave a lot.

I don't want to lose that rally and then go serve and continue to play the game after that. That's not a good feeling.

I felt like my forehand wasn't really, like, as big of a weapon as I wanted it to be today. I felt like some of the times that I tried to hit it bigger -- because it just felt very heavy and slow out there, so sometimes I felt like I needed to put more on it -- I would just mis-hit it, mistime it.

I kind of just committed at the end there once I was up the break, I just have to fight really hard for these points, and I might have to work harder. But, you know, I'm not going to try to, like, pull the trigger on a forehand that I don't love, because it just didn't feel great.

So I was just really trying to just battle through some of those points like that.

Q. I saw the photo of you with a kitten yesterday.

TAYLOR FRITZ: Yes.

Q. So are you a cat person, not a dog person?

TAYLOR FRITZ: I mean, I'm both. I like animals, but I'm probably more of a cat person, I'd say. I just love cats. I'd say for me it's easier to, like, foster and take care of a cat, so I prefer that. Obviously I've always liked cats.