World No. 5 tennis player Taylor Fritz recently spoke about his relationship with his father and how he intends to parent his son in a different way. In an interview with The Guardian, Fritz shared insights about growing up under the coaching of his father Guy Fritz and the challenges that led him to make important changes both professionally and personally.

Fritz’s mother, Kathy May, a former top-10 WTA player, and his father, who was also a professional tennis player and coach, had a significant influence on his early tennis career. While this coaching dynamic provided unique opportunities, it also created a difficult environment, prompting Fritz to part ways with his father as coach at age 17. Since then, Taylor has been building his own approach on and off the court, especially in raising his son, Jordan.

Breaking Away from His Father’s Traditional Coaching Style

Taylor described his father’s coaching approach as somewhat old-fashioned and unstructured. He explained that Guy would arrive at the courts on short notice to organize practice sessions, which didn’t always suit Taylor’s needs as a player seeking a more professional setup. The overlapping roles of father and coach added emotional strain.

“He wanted to coach me all the way through, but I needed someone that had been on tour. My dad’s pretty old-fashioned. He’ll just show up at the courts and ask people to practice at that time. It’s not the most organized, and it’s also hard to have that coach/father relationship.”

—Taylor Fritz, Tennis Player

This tension eventually led Fritz to find new coaches who brought a more experienced and tour-focused perspective. His current coaching team includes Michael Russell and Paul Annacone. Russell has worked with several American players like Frances Tiafoe, Ryan Harrison, and Sam Querrey, while Annacone, a veteran coach, has guided legends such as Pete Sampras and Roger Federer. Annacone has been part of Fritz’s camp since 2018.

Parenting Philosophy: Becoming a Softer and More Present Father

Taylor Fritz’s parents divorced when he was 18, and a year later he welcomed his son Jordan with Raquel Pedraza, a former professional tennis player to whom he was married from 2016 to 2019. Reflecting on his own father’s strictness, Fritz recognizes that he takes a different path with his child. Although his tennis career keeps him away from Jordan at times, he strives to be more emotionally available and indulgent than his dad was.

“I can’t be there as much with my son. I’d love to be full-time with him, and so I’m softer and can’t help but spoil my son. My dad was the opposite.”

—Taylor Fritz, Tennis Player

Taylor’s Instagram often shows him enjoying moments as a “soccer dad,” highlighting a more relaxed and nurturing side compared to his own upbringing. This shift symbolizes Fritz’s intention to break the cycle of rigidity and offer his son a different kind of support and presence.

Recent Success on the Grass Courts and Current Competitive Form

Taylor Fritz started his 2025 grass-court season strongly by capturing the Stuttgart Open title without dropping serve throughout the tournament. This victory marked Fritz’s fourth career title on grass and his ninth overall, and it also improved his head-to-head record against top seed Alexander Zverev to 8-5, having won their last five encounters.

However, following Stuttgart, Fritz experienced an early exit at the Queen’s Club tournament, losing in the opening round to French qualifier Corentin Moutet. He acknowledged the difficulty of the quick turnaround after Stuttgart, citing travel and limited practice as factors.

“Stuttgart was also very fast, but I had a nightmare getting out of there. I had to fly out the following morning, get off the plane, have one practice, and play the next day. So I’m not going to be too hard on myself about losing [to Moutet]. It was a tough turnaround.”

—Taylor Fritz, Tennis Player

Currently, Fritz is defending his title at the Eastbourne Open, where he has won three times before, in 2019, 2022, and 2024. His run in Eastbourne included a challenging victory against Joao Fonseca following rain delays and a hard-fought quarterfinal win over fellow American Marcos Giron. He is set to face Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the semifinals. With Wimbledon approaching, Fritz aims to surpass his previous best of reaching the quarterfinals.

Implications for Fritz’s Career and Personal Growth

Taylor Fritz’s decision to step away from his father’s coaching and adopt a different parenting style reflects his broader pursuit of balance between professionalism and family life. His evolving coaching team, combined with recent tournament successes, signal readiness to compete at the highest level while fostering a more open and affectionate relationship with his son, breaking free from the strict discipline he experienced growing up.

As Fritz continues his campaign on grass courts and prepares for Wimbledon, his growth off court highlights an important transformation in how athletes manage family and sport. This change bears significance not only for his own legacy but also sets an example for future generations on combining athletic ambition with compassionate parenting.