LAVER CUP

September 24, 2022

Taylor Fritz

Press Conference

T. FRITZ/C. Norrie

6-1, 4-6, 10-8

Team Europe - 4

Team World - 4

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Taylor.

Q. How did you feel about the speed of the court out there? How do you feel like the match being tied at 4-All now plays into Frances' hands now tonight?

TAYLOR FRITZ: Yeah, I think the speed of the court, it's really tough to say. I feel like it's a slow -- I don't know if it's the court even. The balls are heavier, a bit of a slower ball.

I feel like the conditions are a bit on the slower side, but to me, they don't feel too slow coming from Davis Cup. I think any player that came from Davis Cup last week will tell you this doesn't feel slow, because those were the absolute slowest conditions I have ever played in my tennis career (smiling).

Yeah, I feel fine. It feels good to be able to finish points again if I hit a good shot. Definitely really low bouncing. Really, really it stays low. But, no, I don't mind it too much.

You know, I think it's big that we are going in 4-4. I think that's going to apply a lot more pressure on them, a lot more pressure on Novak to, you know, to perform and play a good match, because, you know, everyone is looking to him to, you know, kind of lock in the win, be that guy that takes care of business, gets his wins. Obviously not a lot of people usually beat Novak, but Frances is playing great.

I think keeping it to 4-All is going to apply a lot more pressure than if it was 6-2, they are going to feel a bit looser going into that match.

Q. I just wanted to ask you what your thoughts were last night, the whole scene, Roger's good-bye. I saw your tweet about your own emotions. Could you just tell us a little bit about what that felt like for you.

TAYLOR FRITZ: Yeah, I mean, it was crazy. It's one of those things you kind of never thought it was going to happen. You know, Roger has been has been No. 1 in the world since I think I was like eight years old. He's played for this long. It's like -- maybe 12. I don't know, to be honest. He's obviously been playing for a very long time. It was just one of those things, you never really think he's actually going to retire. So I think kind of the realization hitting everybody, like this is it, it's actually...

You know, it was super emotional. Seeing Roger crying, and he came up and, you know, hugged all of us. See him crying, hugged him, I said, Thank you. Thanks, Roger. Thanks for everything.

That got me going. Yeah, it was pretty tough to not be crying (smiling).

Q. You were involved in 2019 when it was a really close Laver Cup, 13-11. Feels like it's going that way. It feels like it's going to be another really close one and go to the wire on Sunday. Is it important for the Laver Cup that it is close? Because obviously last year it obviously wasn't great for Team World.

TAYLOR FRITZ: Yeah, they were showing replays, and I think it was the first match of Day 3 it was like 11-1, and that's a really tough position to be playing in when you're 1-11 down on the third day.

Yeah, of course it's great for the event that it's close. I feel like even if we win there is going to be tons of people that say, Oh, it's staged, it's an XO, blah, blah, blah.

We want this so bad. Yeah, it's definitely good that it's close. We try our best every year, and ultimately it's close right now, but it is going to come down to Day 3.

Q. Taylor, on a lighter note, last couple of days some of the players in Team Europe have been talking about their colleagues in the locker room. Roger is very noisy, and Rafa is a total mess with his things all over the place. What's it like in Team World? Who is the organized, who is the frustrating and irritating one, who plays the music too loud, et cetera?

TAYLOR FRITZ: We always have Tommy and Frances kind of playing the music. Frances is always the one we are waiting for. Always late. I'm usually the one that's always late, but he makes me look great (smiling).

Felix, Demon, they are pretty locked in all the time. Usually it's just Tommy and Frances kind of cracking jokes, keeping things on like a lighter note.

I'm usually just there either, you know, laughing at it or making fun of Frances for being late or whatever else he's doing.