BNP PARIBAS OPEN

March 13, 2023

Taylor Fritz

Press Conference

T. FRITZ/S. Baez

6-1, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations, Taylor. Very quick and smooth win for you today. Are you happy about how you adapted quickly with the conditions?

TAYLOR FRITZ: Yeah, I think I kind of just knew what to expect today much more than rather playing someone who has a really big serve, can just fire off winners. I guess there is a lot less you can control in a match like that, like I played in my first match. I was ready today. Knew what to expect.

Yeah, just I played pretty solid. Got the job done.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Are you watching Carlos' matches? Will you watch him tonight? Is that a thing you do during...

TAYLOR FRITZ: Not really planning on it, no. I don't really like watching tennis too much. If I watch, then it's more just like I'm watching the person that I'm playing next and trying to just pick up on some things, do some scouting.

I'd say I watch when I'm maybe on-site and there's all the TVs around, maybe, if it's a big point or like a tiebreaker, then I'll watch. But wouldn't say I have plans to like sit down and just like watch a whole match tonight.

Q. So you had those terrible cramps in Mexico. Then there was the ankle here in the semis and French Open. Then you came back right away in a few weeks to play Wimbledon. Just talk about your body, your ability to recover. Resistance to pain, pain threshold, just talk about that.

TAYLOR FRITZ: Yeah, I really have no idea. I think I've been very lucky, but obviously I do recover from things very quickly. I think a lot of that is like my willpower and, like, I hate to be out, I hate to be injured.

I'm always probably pushing it, for better or worse, pushing it to try to get back on court as quick as possible when I have an injury. Whether it be a stress fracture last year where I came back from it twice, probably too early, or it's the knee a couple years ago before Wimbledon.

I don't know. I've been very lucky coming back, coming back quickly after injuries and not doing further damage to it luckily from rushing these comebacks. Yeah, I don't really know what it is exactly.

Q. Obviously a lot of players in the ATP are just great baseliners, Novak and Rafa come to mind. Who do you think in the ATP or in your career has been the toughest baseliner, just on the baseline?

TAYLOR FRITZ: I mean, tough not to say Novak. He's so strong off of both sides. Also so fast, as well, it's very tough to hurt him, to get it past him. If you're too safe, then he can also kind of push you around and dictate you as well.

There's a lot of guys that are great from the baseline. Kind of just depending on the day. But I feel like I do have to say Novak, for sure.

Q. Do you feel like you're defending territory, or is it so long ago that so much has happened from now and between a year ago?

TAYLOR FRITZ: Yeah, I'm reminded that I'm defending the title every, like, hour or so (smiling). It's tough to forget that, but I am trying to take it like how it is, you know. We start over at zero, the race, the race is the race. I'm just trying to have good results to put myself in the best position to end the year at the highest spot in the race.

I'm trying to take it like that, like it's any other tournament, but it is pretty tough to not know that I'm defending a title. Yeah, I'm getting constantly reminded of that.

Q. Sorry.

TAYLOR FRITZ: It's fine. It's fun.

Q. You play doubles. Does that help or hurt your singles game?

TAYLOR FRITZ: I wouldn't say it really does either. I just like to play sometimes just to have fun. I normally don't play, but to be honest, the reason why I played this year is because I played last year, and I won the tournament, so I'm superstitious. Wanted to play doubles again this year, just because that's what I did last year when I won. I don't know. You get extra court time, I guess.

I couldn't tell you if it hurts.

Q. So it's fun and for practice, and because you're superstitious.

TAYLOR FRITZ: Playing here was because I'm superstitious. But it is just for fun. I like playing with another singles player because then we don't need to care so much about the result. If we win, it's awesome; if we lose, it's no big deal.