Taylor Fritz is currently the top-ranked American male player, but he is still some way from reaching the level of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
Fritz has avoided Sinner and Alcaraz while playing Dallas, but he will be competing once again with them during the Sunshine Double.
The American is open about behind-the-scenes life on the ATP Tour, often giving fans an insight into what being a top tennis player is really like.
The star has now opened up about backstage politics at top events and how Alcaraz and Sinner often receive a priority from the organisers.
Taylor Fritz says Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have all the power at top events
On a recent Twitch stream, the American explained how much say top players have at big tournaments surrounding where they want to be placed on the order of play.
Fritz was brutally frank about the power the top players in the world currently hold, stating: “It’s the priority matches, so at the end of the day if Carlos, Jannik, and Novak are playing they are going to get the time slots that they want to get.
“But also you’re separated in the draw, so at the same time, Carlos and Jannik are going to be split, so on one day, Carlos is going to get his pick, on this next day Jannik will get his.”
Do you believe Carlos Alcaraz is already the greatest tennis player of all time?
Fritz said the top tournaments work on a ‘priority’ system, which is normally dominated by the ranking system.
“Whoever the next highest seeds are will probably get a way. As the top seeded American, I probably fall, because it’s split, I’d say I probably fall around priority number three on the day that I play.
“Three or four people will have priority one day, three of four people will have priority the other day. I won’t have to compete with the other guys who are playing on the opposite side of me.
“I won’t get to pick the time I play on centre court but if I want to pick the time I play on court 2, I might be able to say: ‘Hey, don’t put me first but also don’t put me night match.’”
However, Fritz explained that his power goes completely out of the window if he plays Sinner, Alcaraz, or Djokovic.
“But if any point I play one of those top guys then whatever I want to do is completely out of the question.
“We do what they want to do. If I play Novak and he wants to play me at night, they’re gonna put my a— at night against him. That’s kind of just how it is.”
Fritz’s next appearance at a major event is set to be on home soil at Indian Wells, which he previously won in 2022.
Taylor Fritz’s record against Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner
Fritz has been flirting with the ATP Tour top five for some time now, but he is yet to truly challenge Alcaraz and Sinner in the top two.
The American holds an unfortunate record against both men, having beaten them both just once in his career.
Fritz’s sole victory against Sinner came all the way back in 2021, when he knocked the Italian out of Indian Wells.
Can Carlos Alcaraz win MORE Grand Slams than Novak Djokovic? 🤔
Since then, he’s lost four straight matches to Sinner, most recently in the final of the ATP Finals in 2024.
As for Alcaraz, there is much debate over whether Fritz’s victory over the Spaniard even officially counts.
Fritz’s victory against Alcaraz came at the 2025 Laver Cup in San Francisco, which doesn’t offer any ranking points.
It is officially listed on the ATP Tour’s official website, but the Laver Cup is technically an exhibition tournament.
Alcaraz has managed to defeat Fritz five times, including three times in 2025 at the ATP Finals, Japan Open, and Wimbledon.
