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Taylor Fritz admits he was "pumped up" knowing that Roger Federer was in the stands watching his Laver Cup match. On Saturday in Vancouver, Team World's Fritz defeated Andrey Rublev of Team Europe 6-2 7-6 (3). Federer, one of the founders of the Laver Cup, was in the stands watching the match.
"I try not to look into the crowd too much. But I know Roger is watching, so I think that's always something that is really cool is after I get off the court, especially since I played a good match, I'm, like, it pumps me up a lot knowing someone like Roger and those guys, that they're watching, watching me play, and I'm happy that I played well," Fritz said, via Sportskeeda.
Fritz felt 'pumped up' to have Federer in the crowd
After beating Rublev, Fritz was asked if he would find it intimidating or inspiring to be watched by the Big Three - Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. "Watching? Intimidating, I'm not quite sure.
I think I know, for me, when it's Roger watching, that's probably, like, what I'd be the most excited about, I guess, of the three of them. Probably would be the most excited about Roger watching, because I just, you know, always looked up to Roger so much.
Yeah, I'd love to talk to him and ask him what he, you know, what he thought about the match or about my game," Fritz said. Meanwhile, Fritz played against Federer twice before the Swiss retired. Their first meeting came on the grass courts of Stuttgart in 2016, when Federer beat Fritz in a three-setter 6-4 5-7 6-4.
Their second and last meeting came at the 2019 Australian Open - this time, Federer claimed a straight-set 6-2 7-5 6-2 win. Since Federer retired from pro tennis last year, Fritz won't ever again have a chance to play the Swiss on the pro level.