Since the Dallas Open’s launch in 2022, Taylor Fritz has almost always been the growing tournament’s number one seed. But his relationship with Dallas stretches all the way back to his early pro days playing challenger events. “I’ve loved coming here all these years. The hospitality is amazing… that’s how it’s always been,” Fritz says.
Ahead of his first Dallas Open match today, we asked him about how he gets into the competitive mindset, his partnership with Elena Rybakina, his outsider’s perspective on Dallas, being the best basketball player on tour (per Frances Tiafoe), and the eternal question (BBQ or Tex-Mex?).
Watch the video for the full conversation, and get a taste of the transcript below:
Mike Marshall: I got to play [a game of] HORSE with Frances [Tiafoe] last year.
Taylor Fritz: Oh for sure you won. He’s awful.
Mike Marshall: I don’t even think he got a letter. But then I said, “Okay, tell me who I actually need to play against,” and he said, “Taylor, absolutely.” So we don’t have to play HORSE right now, but I want you to build your starting five of guys on the tour.
Taylor Fritz: OK Reilly. Not just because of the height. He’s actually very good. Kyrgios. He’s very good. I feel like people are going to get mad because I’m, like, excluding them, but I know Tommy’s good. I’d put myself in there as well. And then Thanasi’s pretty good. I’ll put Thanasi in there, too. But Frances, definitely not. That’s not his game.
Author

Mike Marshall
View Profile