Taylor Fritz highlights key difference without Alcaraz and Sinner in tournaments.

Taylor Fritz was unable to take advantage of the absence of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz at the Canadian Open, falling in the first round after a straight-sets defeat to Thiago Augustin Tirante. This early result ends the American's campaign at the Masters, but he will have another opportunity at the Cincinnati Open.

Fritz, who will be the sixth seed in the Cincinnati tournament, benefited from the absence of the two players, who are out of the competition due to injuries. This situation provides the player with an ideal opportunity to prepare for the US Open, which will begin at the end of August. In Cincinnati, Fritz was asked about the withdrawals of Alcaraz and Sinner during the pre-tournament press conference.

When asked if the presence or absence of the two players affects his preparation, Fritz responded, “Maybe once I get to the later stages of the tournament, but that’s not something I’m thinking about until I’m in the quarter-finals.” He explained that the real difference is only noticeable in the final stages, where the competitiveness is higher: “Until then, it’s just another tournament.”

Fritz acknowledged that while there are opportunities, they are more significant in the later rounds. “Other highly ranked players probably feel more pressure to seize an opportunity to win a title,” he stated. The player also revealed that he does not feel a difference until he reaches a stage where he could face the best players.

The absence of Alcaraz and Sinner should be good news for Fritz, especially considering his unfavorable record against top players. He has won only one of six encounters against Alcaraz, having triumphed at the 2025 Laver Cup, a competition that is not official. Regarding Sinner, Fritz has only won one of five matches, with the last defeat occurring in the last four encounters, including the most recent one at Indian Wells in 2021.

As preparations continue, Fritz hopes that this opportunity in Cincinnati can serve as a springboard for a strong performance at the US Open. The absence of the two major rivals may thus ease the American's path in pursuit of an important title, although the focus remains on his own game in the early stages of the tournament.