Sampras has high hopes for U.S. prospect Fritz
Everyone’s waiting for the next great American men’s tennis player to emerge, even Pete Sampras. And Pistol Pete has the guy in mind — 18-year-old, slingshot-serving, recently married Taylor Fritz.
Sampras endorsed Fritz as having the best shot of the current crop, which also includes 18-year-old Frances Tiafoe. Last summer, when Sampras played an exhibition in Mexico and Fritz competed in a low-level tournament, they hit for 45 minutes and had a nice chat. They both live in Southern California.
“Taylor’s got a good future,’’ Sampras told The Post this week while promoting an American Express on-site experience at next week’s U.S. Open. “It’s a cycle and we’re not quite what we used to be in the ’80s and ’90s. I’ve hit with him. He’s a nice kid who is doing all the right things.”
Fritz, whose mother, Kathy May, played on the tour, turned pro in 2015. He’s already ranked 54th with a 12-16 record this year, including a berth in an ATP Finals event in Memphis. He was the youngest player at Wimbleon in June and after the tournament got married to his longtime girlfriend, also 18.
“He wants to do well and learn,’’ Sampras said. “He’s a big kid. There’s some potential there. He asked me good questions.’’
Sampras realizes his former record of 14 Grand Slam singles titles is in danger of being passed again — by Novak Djokovic, whom he expects to win the U.S.-Open. That would give Djokovic 13 Slam titles, one shy of Sampras.
“He’s got a very good chance of tying and passing me at some point,’’ Sampras said. “Whether he could get to Roger Federer [17], it’s a big question. He needs to stay healthy and continue to be motivated. The last couple of years, he’s been incredibly dominant.’’