ITF

36 ITFWORLD WINTER 2015 OPEN J UN I O R SL A M SP O T L I GH T J U N I O R SL A M S P O T L I G H T J UN I O R SL A M S P O T L I GH T US JUNIOR GRAND SLAMS By Stuart Fraser. A merican tennis may have struggled to hit the heights of old in recent times, but Taylor Fritz's US Open boys' singles success was yet another sign that better times could well lie ahead. Fritz's triumph at Flushing Meadows meant that three of the 2015 Grand Slam boys' singles champions were from the USA, with Reilly Opelka winning Wimbledon and Tommy Paul — who Fritz beat in the final in New York — claiming the title at Roland Garros. "It's really great to be a part of it because there is definitely a wave of juniors that are going to make a mark in professional tennis," says Fritz. "It's great to be recognised as one of the people in that wave. It's great because we all push each other, make each other better and we all improve." Big-serving Californian 18-year- old Fritz — he clocked a serve of 138mph at the US Open — is the son of former world No. 10 Kathy May and Guy Fritz, a more modest professional who never rose above No. 301 in the world rankings. Tennis is a sport which is in his genes. "Having both parents who have played tennis, it's pretty hard not to get into tennis," says Fritz. "I always wanted to be a professional athlete, but I didn't really know what sort at first. I just knew I wanted to be in sport and then when you get down to it, both my parents are professional tennis players. If I wanted to be a professional athlete, I think tennis was where I would have the best chance." Despite the fact tennis was a major part of his life from a young age, Fritz surprisingly was not too keen on the sport. "I hated tennis and I didn't get down to working hard until I was 15," he says. "From a young age, it was always a struggle just to get me on the tennis court to practise, but my parents would do it because they knew I wanted to be a pro. I just didn't have the motivation to do it. "My parents didn't force anything on me. It's been nice having parents who know the process and know what to do. I definitely wouldn't be where I am today without them." californian rides the wave

• Cover