In the high-stakes world of tennis, confidence often draws the fine line between victory and defeat. For America’s Taylor Fritz, that confidence is steadily evolving into quiet conviction. Once seen as the underdog in matchups against tennis’ elite, Fritz has now rewritten that narrative with his consistency in the last few years. He has transformed from a hopeful contender into a serious threat. No, standing before him is Carlos Alcaraz—the man many call tennis’ future—and Fritz can’t wait to test just how close he’s gotten.

Fritz has faced Alcaraz five times in his career, and guess what? He has managed to win just one match against the Spaniard, and it came at this year’s Laver Cup (6-3, 6-2). In 2025, they have met each other thrice, but Alcaraz got the better of the American twice. But so what? Fritz believes that his performances in the last two matches against Alcaraz are enough to look eye-to-eye with one of the finest of the game. During the Japan Open, Fritz said that he could not afford to be afraid of meeting the top two (Alcaraz and Sinner) if he wants to win his first Grand Slam title. Having said that, after the Japan Open final, he also admitted that Alcaraz is the best player in the world for a reason.

And now, just before their SF clash at the Six Kings Slam, Taylor Fritz made a very interesting statement. He said, “Whether it is beating somebody or getting to a certain point in a tournament, when you do something once, it feels a lot easier to do again and again. It definitely helps (to get the win against Alcaraz). I played a great match, and it gives me a clear outline, I guess, of what I need to do and what I can do to make it work.” Having pushed the young Spaniard to his limits in recent duels, the American seems to have found the formula to disrupt Alcaraz’s explosive rhythm. 

Speaking more about matching the levels of the best in the game, during an interview with Tennis 365, he added, “They are two incredible players (Sinner and Alcaraz). They push me to keep improving and become a better player to try and compete with them. When I played Carlos at the Laver Cup in the previous year, he played well, and it just felt like there was nothing I could do. I had no chance. This year at the Laver Cup and in the finals in Tokyo, I felt like the level was much closer, and I feel like I have got a lot closer.” The Six Kings Slam—a blockbuster exhibition featuring tennis’ finest—presents Fritz with the perfect stage to test that belief.

If he wins this match, he will get a chance to cross paths with the number 2, Jannik Sinner. So, while the event may be less about ranking points and more about pride and spectacle, the underlying rivalries are as real as they come. Talking about rivalries, let’s now take a look at his rivalry with another superstar in the tennis world.

Not only against Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz has been very impressive even against the world number three

When Taylor Fritz first burst onto the ATP Tour as a lanky Californian with a rocket serve and fearless groundstrokes, few would’ve predicted that one of his defining rivalries would emerge against a player as established and polished as Alexander Zverev. Yet years later, the Fritz-Zverev battles have become some of the most compelling duels on Tour—contests where raw power meets unshakable precision. These two have now met each other fifteen times (including the recent Six Kings Slam faceoff where Fritz defeated Zverev 6-3,6-4) and the American has won nine of those duels. 

Currently, he’s on a seven-match winning streak against the German. Last year in November, Alexander Zverev admitted that Taylor Fritz is the player that he’s most uncomfortable with. Then following that, after losing the 2025 Stuttgart Open final, Zverev joked, “Taylor, I'm fu—g tired of you. I don't wanna see you again over the next two to three years. Please stay away from me. Don't come to Germany anymore.” 

These reactions tell us the story of how not only has Fritz become a dominating force against the top player in the ATP, but also how well he has worked on his game in the past couple of years. As per top performance expert Mark Kovacs, Taylor Fritz is the player who’s going to throw a major challenge to the sheer dominance of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

At the Six Kings Slam, the lights will be bright, the stakes symbolic, and the intensity undeniable. And as Taylor Fritz readies himself for battle, one thing is certain—he’s no longer chasing Alcaraz from afar. He’s right on his heels, ready to make his move.

He knows that this match against Alcaraz is going to be very tough and physical, and he needs to be at his absolute best to bring out a favorable result from this duel. But who, according to you, will get the better of the other one in Riyadh today?

Written by

Sayantan Roy

Sayantan Roy is a seasoned tennis journalist at EssentiallySports. He brings a deep tactical understanding to his coverage, breaking down head-to-head records, match dynamics, and on-court strategies with precision. For more than two years, Sayantan has been a key member of the Live Events desk, delivering real-time insights and data-backed predictions for the platform’s Matchday Preview section. His analytical approach has sparked editorial debates and drawn recognition from respected tennis voices, including commentator and analyst Olly_Tennis. Combining his experience in writing with a passion for insightful sports journalism, Sayantan’s work serves as a trusted reference point for tennis fans around the world.

Know more

Edited by

Shrabana Sengupta