DAVIS CUP QUALIFIERS: USA VS COLOMBIA

March 4, 2022

Mardy Fish

Taylor Fritz

Press Conference

T. FRITZ/A. Gonzalez

6-1, 6-0

USA - 2

Colombia - 0

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Mardy, what did you tell Seb in the second set?

MARDY FISH: Yeah, I mean, look, the guy plays very streaky, it seems like. He played I thought top 20, top 30 tennis there for periods. Things can get a little squirrelly when you're in an unfamiliar situation. That was obviously Sebie's first time to be in that type of pressure. Just a different type of pressure obviously.

I thought he did great to sort of recover and regroup in the third. There's not a whole lot you can do. You just try and stay positive. He did a great job, great job of keeping the crowd into it and staying engaged and positive. He did a great job with that.

It was nice to get his first one out of the way.

Q. He didn't seem that flustered afterwards. Is that just his demeanor?

MARDY FISH: I think so. Yeah, I mean, look, I haven't spent a whole lot of time with him. He's obviously been on the radar for a couple years now. Sort of keeping an eye on some of the younger guys, some of their success and everything. Similar to Taylor where he's had some success at an early age.

I'm excited that he got involved, getting involved in this type of competition on the team. I see a big future for him in terms of Davis Cup.

Both these guys did a fantastic job. Obviously he didn't face a whole lot of negative stress or anything like that. They handled it really well.

I mean, this guy is a total gamer, Taylor is. Seems like every time he plays against somebody, it sort of feels like he's built for this type of competition. Sebie may be the same.

Taylor, four matches now for him in Davis Cup. We've got a track record to look at. That was the first one for Sebie, so it's great to get him going.

Q. There's still a lot of work to be done, but talk about 2-0.

MARDY FISH: Yeah, great start. That was obviously the goal. I feel like obviously we were favored in both matches, but that never works out really that way.

I'm excited to watch the boys in doubles tomorrow. I love watching these guys play, Raj and Jack together. They were great in Turin. We were unlucky to have a couple injuries there at the end in Turin. But I'm excited to watch them.

Q. The U.S. has had a long history of leaders, Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, the Bryans, Isner. Do you think one of your stages would be evolving into a real leader for our country's Davis Cup team?

TAYLOR FRITZ: Are we talking as a player or... When I'm done with my career?

MARDY FISH: That's what you want (laughter).

TAYLOR FRITZ: All the people he named off are done with their careers.

We're a team. I try to hold myself to a high standard when I'm at these events, set a good precedent for the rest of the team.

But we're all a team at the end of the day and we all have our own important parts. Our captain is the leader. There's no need for a player to be the leader.

Like I said, I just try to set a good precedent for everybody else to follow. We can bring that energy and bring the good habits and the good demeanor on the court.

Q. The fact that a guy who is ranked No. 40 can play a guy ranked No. 265 and have a match like that seems like what Davis Cup is all about.

MARDY FISH: No doubt. Yeah, that's a brutal match in Bogota. We're lucky to have it here. We cut the altitude in half for them, but still gave them some.

TAYLOR FRITZ: Still gave them some altitude to work with (laughter).

MARDY FISH: Weren't you closer to Indian Wells?

TAYLOR FRITZ: I'm just saying (laughter).

MARDY FISH: Why do you think he's going to ask you a question about when you're retired (laughter)?

No, look, that's what it's all about. That's the passion that we saw from him specifically last November. That's what we all sort of walked away from in Italy and felt like we could get better at.

Is he over the top sometimes? Perhaps. But I told him at the net, I said, You can play for me anytime, man. That guy tries his butt off. I'm sure Alejandro is very proud of him, the way that guy competes. Very impressive.

Q. Taylor, is there any adjustment period for you playing at elevation, or pretty much another match for you?

TAYLOR FRITZ: It's a lot of adjustment. I hate playing altitude. Honestly, this is really tough for me. I feel like the ball has been flying.

MARDY FISH: Looks like it.

TAYLOR FRITZ: Sounds dumb saying that, but...

Yeah, the ball has been flying for me all week a bit. I feel like I can't sometimes... I don't know. If I add a little too much loft to the shots, it's going to be gone. I have to cover it a bit more.

It's definitely helping my serve. That's nice.