THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 1, 2021

Taylor Fritz

Press Conference

T. FRITZ/S. Johnson

6-4, 7-6, 4-6, 6-7, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Tell me about how things went out there with Steve and what were you feeling when you were all of a sudden in a fifth set after leading, kind of being in command?

TAYLOR FRITZ: You know, I don't really think Steve played his best in the first set. I wasn't serving great. I think the first set was just kind of, like, neither of us playing great. I was lucky to take it.

Then the second set I had some chances, served really well, got in the breaker. And then I felt like the third and the fourth and the fifth even, like his level was, he really raised his level. He played really good, honestly. I don't think I did too much wrong. Even in the tiebreaker, I was 4-All, I probably should have just like stayed aggressive and hopefully, you know, I wish I could have just come up with better serves, but, I mean, he won the points, he hit good shots. I think I only really like missed like one backhand line. To be fair to him, I thought he played it pretty well.

I didn't like give it away to him or anything. I just wish I could have maybe made some more serves.

I don't know. I didn't really have a lot of time to think about it, because I knew if I put myself down in the fifth then I was going to be in trouble, so I immediately just focused on the fifth and told myself to keep fighting and keep competing and just trying to grind out the holds. Eventually I'll get him on a game where he kind of makes some mistakes, and that's what happened.

Q. Sort of a big-picture question. You have now played a couple of Californians here. The Southern California tennis culture is pretty special. Can you talk about growing up in that culture, what it was like to grow up and emerge and what it's like now?

TAYLOR FRITZ: Yeah, I mean, obviously Southern California is one of the best places in the world, you know. Great weather all the time. I love this whole, like -- I don't know. I was from San Diego. A lot of tournaments in San Diego, a lot of tournaments in LA. That was what I was doing most of my weekends when I was a kid, playing all the tournaments in Southern California.

It's just really good. You know, we have a lot of great players that come out of Southern California, and it's really cool to see them on tour. It's kind of unfortunate that I literally have played two California guys here first and second round. But, I don't know, it's really cool to kind of just be able to rep Southern California tennis on tour.

Q. Where did you first start playing? What was your early experience in Southern California culture? Just a little more on that.

TAYLOR FRITZ: I started playing when I was two years old, just at my house. I was around tennis my whole life because my mom, both my parents were pros. My dad was a coach, as well.

I mean, I played a lot, just like in San Diego. Barnes Tennis Center had lots of tournaments, and I spent a lot of time there. I feel like those are my second home courts.

Q. I missed your interview after your first victory, regrettably. I'd love to hear more about your experience with this surgery. This is a remarkable story. Originally it was supposed to be a meniscus surgery that wasn't as bad as you thought it would be. They didn't have to repair the meniscus. That gave you a chance to fight your way back and actually show up for Wimbledon, correct?

TAYLOR FRITZ: We never thought it was a meniscus repair. I just knew whatever -- basically what happened was, I mean, I knew whatever I did at French Open was, like, it was bad. Because I honestly, like, I didn't want to get a wheelchair off the court, but I couldn't even stand.

I tried to stand up. I couldn't stand. I looked at my team, and I said, Guys, I could be done for a long time. Because I have never had anything that felt like that. I heard it pop, you know. I heard it go.

Yeah, so I was obviously really down, expecting something bad from the MRIs. You know, they told me, hypothetically speaking, if it is what they think it is, then a four- to six-week recovery is possible. That was the day that I did it at French Open.

Then obviously I had to go home, wait a couple days for the surgeon to be ready. You know, I think it was on the weekend unfortunately, so he took me on the next Tuesday. I kind of just chilled for four days.

So by the time I was actually able to get the surgery, it was Tuesday. So it's exactly 20 days away from Wimbledon, being Monday would have been.

So today is day 23, I guess, up from surgery. Obviously it's meant to be a four- to six-week thing. I'm positive this is the quickest anyone has ever returned to, like, actual professional competition from this surgery, definitely any sport that requires direction changes. Maybe someone has done it in golf. But this is definitely the fastest someone has come back from this.

Yeah, the surgeon told me before we went in, you know, we think it's just you have to just snip the part that I tore off, just snip it out, and then we're good, because the rest of the meniscus looks intact. You don't need all of it. You just need, you know, most of it.

But he kind of warned me, you know, Once I get in there, I'm going to check it. If it's a little bit damaged, this one part looks like it could be damaged, then I'm going to have to do a repair.

First thing when I woke up, I was loopy from the anesthesia, and the first thing I said was, Did he repair it or did he snip it? They said, He snipped it.

Immediately from then on I was just thinking, like, Wimbledon, everything I can possibly do to be here.

Q. I'd like to relate to you a little bit about what Zverev said about you after his match. He found it remarkable that you're able to compete at this level after that surgery. And he also spoke about the tough match that you guys had here at Wimbledon. I was wondering what your thoughts are about him and about your history with him as you go into this match against him.

TAYLOR FRITZ: Yeah, I mean, I have known Alex for a really long time, you know. When I first qualified at junior US Open, I was, like, 15. I was just so happy to be there. He was the World No. 1 at the time. We played each other first-round US Open juniors. I was probably about 15.

I guess we have always been around the same age, so, you know, seen a lot of each other on tour. I have obviously been around since I was, like, 18. He's been around on tour since he was about 17. Seen a lot of each other.

We have had a lot of -- we have had some good matches. He got me in that five-setter here a couple years ago. I got him in Basel two years ago. So, you know, we have definitely seen a lot of each other and played some close matches. We'll see.

Q. Style of play, how would you describe the similarities and differences between the two of you?

TAYLOR FRITZ: I think we both rely a lot on our serves, and I think -- I mean, we both probably have more solid backhands as well and like to play aggressive. I think he maybe plays a little deeper in the court than I do, but other than that, I'd say it's pretty similar aggressive game styles from both of us.

Q. I just want to ask you, do you feel like this is giving you a boost mentally? First of all, how is the knee feeling? Second of all, do you think it's kind of given you a boost that can help you get where you want to go? This is I think your seventh third round at a slam. You've had terrible brutal draws in pretty much all of them. Do you think is there something magic happening here? You've made it here and you're destined to go further?

TAYLOR FRITZ: You know, whatever happens, happens. I have already done more than I think myself or anyone else expected. You know, taking everything into account. I just played 9 sets in the last 26 hours, three weeks out of a knee surgery.

You know, it's all positives, no matter what happens. I'm just going to go out there and go for it. Maybe this crazy run can continue. I don't see why not, you know. I've got a day to recover, so use that the best I can. Yeah, the knee is feeling good. You know, no reason to stop.