Taylor Fritz enjoyed the best year of his career in 2024, as he finished the year in the top five for the first time.
American tennis has struggled to produce a true ATP star for several years, with the nation currently experiencing a 21-year Slam-less drought.
Fritz could well be the man to change that, however, as he impressed fans with his grit and determination throughout 2024.
He became the first American since Andy Roddick to reach a Grand Slam final, when Fritz lost to Jannik Sinner at the US Open earlier this year.
Fritz then reached the final of the ATP Finals, losing once more to the Italian who himself made huge strides this season.
It was enough to see Fritz finish 2024 as world number four, the highest year-end ranking for an American ATP star since James Blake in 2006.
All the signs seem to be pointing towards Grand Slam success in Fritz’s future, but one former ATP star thinks it could be his fellow American that gets there first.
Speaking on the Tennis Channel Live podcast, Jason Goodall and former Wimbledon quarter-finalist Chris Eubanks were discussing who they think will be the next ATP star to win their first Grand Slam.
Goodall recognized that Fritz looks to be a strong favorite, but offered up another American star as someone who he thinks might get their hands on a Major soon.
“[Taylor] Fritz is one of those players that’s really solid at the highest level, a phenomenal competitor so off the back of making his first Major final, you’d think 2025 is going to go all up as far as he’s concerned,” said Goodall.
“As far as Americans are concerned you’d have to say Fritz, although [Frances] Tiafoe perhaps has higher notes and maybe has a better chance of springing a surprise at the US Open.”
Goodall’s co-host Eubanks, was firmly in the Fritz camp, as he has faith in the 27-year-old’s ability to bring home a Grand Slam title.
“Fritz is more in form that a lot of the guys this year, had a career year in every single Major, advanced to the final of the US Open which is a big moment for him, a big milestone in his career,” he said.
“As we’re sitting here right now the next player to win a Grand Slam, I like Jack Draper, I came really close to picking him but I’m going to go with Taylor Fritz.”
Goodall went on to produce another name he thinks can win a Grand Slam, which may surprise some fans.
“With Rafael Nadal retiring, perhaps there is an opportunity for someone like Casper [Ruud], who excels on the clay to have even more success than he’s already had at Roland Garros,” he said.
“Rafa dominated for so long, [Jannik] Sinner’s not at his best on clay as of yet, maybe there is the opportunity for the likes of Casper Ruud to do well.”
Casper Ruud has reached the final of the French Open on two occasions and won 11 of his 12 career titles on the clay.
Goodall may think that Tiafoe has a better chance of taking home a Grand Slam than Fritz, but do the stats back that up?
Round lost in | Name | Tournament | Opponent |
Final | Taylor Fritz | 2024 – US Open | Jannik Sinner |
Semi-final | Frances Tiafoe | 2024 – US Open | Taylor Fritz |
Semi-final | Frances Tiafoe | 2022 – US Open | Carlos Alcaraz |
Quarter-final | Taylor Fritz | 2023 – US Open | Novak Djokovic |
Quarter-final | Frances Tiafoe | 2023 – US Open | Ben Shelton |
Quarter-final | Frances Tiafoe | 2019 – Australian Open | Rafael Nadal |
Quarter-final | Taylor Fritz | 2024 – Australian Open | Novak Djokovic |
Quarter-final | Taylor Fritz | 2024 – Wimbledon | Lorenzo Musetti |
Quarter-final | Taylor Fritz | 2022 – Wimbledon | Rafael Nadal |
Both men have made deep runs at the Grand Slam tournaments, but only Fritz has made it to a final.
Tiafoe fell at the semi-final stage for the second time in two years at the US Open in September, as he lost to Fritz in a five-set battle at Flushing Meadows.
It was a seventh consecutive win for Fritz against his countryman as he extended his commanding lead in the head-to-head to 7-1.
Head-to-head records may not decide the pair’s Grand Slam fates, but Tiafoe will certainly want to start getting the better of Fritz sooner rather than later.
It remains to be seen whether Fritz or Tiafoe can get their hands on a Grand Slam title next year, but the Australian Open which begins on January 12, will be their first shot at glory.
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