"If I try to come across as fake, you can tell" - Taylor Fritz recounts experience while shooting for Netflix tennis documentary 'Break Point'
Taylor Fritz is one of the leading tennis stars featured in Netflix's recently-released documentary on tennis titled Break Point. While tennis comes quite naturally to the current American No. 1, performing the same routines on tour while also shooting for a Netflix show does not.
Fritz recently revealed how he approached the experience, having cameras follow him around quite often during the 2022 season. The 25-year-old's focus was simply on being himself and not coming across as "fake."
While many might have thought that Fritz, along with others, probably had to behave or 'act' a certain way knowing that the camera was always on him, the American said that he was always being himself and was aware that it would have been easy to spot him being fake or different.
"I always try to just be me. I thought that if I try to come across as fake or different, you can tell," Taylor Fritz said during a recent interview on the 'Break Point: A Netflix Recap Show' podcast.
The American's journey as a tennis player was highlighted in Episode 3 of Part 1 of the first season of Break Point, with a focus on his incredible title run at the 2022 Indian Wells Masters, his home ATP Masters tournament. It also portrays, through Fritz's lens and the lens of his close ones, the challenges he faces on tour.
The World No. 7 further admitted that it was not difficult to 'be himself' on camera, particularly during his pre-match routine as well as training routines, being so used to such experiences. On match days in particular, Fritz simply treated the Netflix cameras as just another spectator, as he was intensely focused on the match ahead.
He also revealed that there are many things the cameras capture that never see the light of day when it comes to the actual episode.
"I didn't think it was hard to be myself on camera when we're at the courts and doing our routines and stuff because it's the same stuff every time," Fritz added.
"Especially on a match day, I'm really locked in, doing what I do, and be ready to go, so I'm not even thinking about the camera there. Its like a fly-on-the-wall type of thing.
"They film so much stuff that never will get used, you know?"
"When they're filming me in my hotel room, my life is not that exciting" - Taylor Fritz on Netflix cameras capturing his off-court life
On the flip side, Taylor Fritz experienced awkwardness when the producers captured moments from his life off the court. Fritz joked that his life in the hotel room during tournaments is not exciting. While he was aware that the Netflix team was looking for certain specific aspects of his life, he did not want to force anything, and such situations gave rise to a bit of awkwardness.
Off the court, Fritz's girlfriend Morgan Riddle and his family were in focus for the show.
"I was just very much myself. I do think that at times maybe it was awkward when we were filming stuff off the court," Taylor Fritz revealed.
"Because, like, when they're filming me in my hotel room, my life is not that exciting. I know that they're probably looking to get certain things, but I also don't want to force anything, so we're just sitting there and that can be a bit difficult."
Fritz is currently in action at the Delray Beach Open and made it through to the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Emilio Gomez on Thursday. He reached the semifinals of the Dallas Open last week.