Taylor Fritz, the world No. 5 tennis star, has been making waves at Wimbledon 2025, not just for his on-court prowess but for a candid moment from his past that resurfaced unexpectedly. After a thrilling 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(4) victory over Karen Khachanov in the quarterfinals, Fritz secured his first-ever Wimbledon semifinal berth, a milestone that marks him as the first American man to reach this stage since John Isner in 2018. But it was a post-match revelation about a private note from 2021 that stole the spotlight, sparking both laughter and admiration for the role his girlfriend, Morgan Riddle, has played in his career.
The note in question, written after a third-round loss to Alexander Zverev in 2021, was a raw, expletive-laden self-critique. Fritz, frustrated after dropping out of the top 40 following surgery, poured his emotions into words: “Nobody in the whole world is underachieving harder than you, you’re so f****** good but 40 in the world get your f****** s*** together.” The note was meant to stay private, a personal pep talk to refocus his ambitions. But Riddle, a social media influencer with over a million followers across platforms, shared it on Instagram with a lighthearted caption: “A note Taylor wrote himself on the bus at Wimbledon on my phone after he lost and dropped out of the top 40 hahahaha.” Fritz, reflecting on the moment after his quarterfinal win, smiled and said, “That note was never supposed to be public.” He explained that he was “ranting” to Riddle about his performance when she suggested he write down his thoughts to process them.
Far from being upset, Fritz credits Riddle for her unwavering support, which he says has been instrumental in his rise to the top echelons of tennis. “There’s been a pretty constant results-and-ranking rise since we’ve been together,” he noted, highlighting how Riddle has kept him focused and motivated. Their partnership, which began in 2020 after meeting on the dating app Raya, has grown into a dynamic force both on and off the court. Riddle, a Minnesota native who transitioned from a corporate job to full-time content creation, has become a prominent figure in the tennis world, often dubbed “the most famous woman in men’s tennis.” Her viral TikTok videos and Instagram posts, including her “Wimbledon Threads” fashion series, have brought a fresh, youthful energy to the sport, making it more accessible to a younger audience.
The couple’s journey hasn’t been without challenges. Traveling 30 weeks a year, they’ve learned to balance Fritz’s demanding tennis schedule with Riddle’s content creation. “We travel so well together,” Riddle shared in an interview, emphasizing their teamwork. “People always ask me, ‘How do you guys spend that much time in a hotel room together without wanting to rip each other’s heads off?’ But we get along really well.” Her presence courtside, often captured by ESPN cameras, has boosted her visibility, with moments like her intense expressions during Fritz’s five-set thriller against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard going viral. That match, halted by Wimbledon’s 11 p.m. curfew, saw Riddle’s stress levels triple, as her fitness tracker revealed, underscoring the emotional toll of supporting Fritz through high-stakes moments.
Riddle’s influence extends beyond social media. Her collaboration with Wimbledon in 2023 to host “Wimbledon Threads” marked a turning point, earning her recognition from a tournament known for its prestige. “To be recognized by a tournament of that prestige is just a big win for me,” she said, acknowledging the challenge of winning over traditional tennis fans. Despite facing criticism from some corners of the tennis world, including a clique of older players’ partners who mocked her public persona, Riddle remains unapologetic. “I kind of came in guns blazing,” she admitted on a podcast, refusing to conform to expectations of staying private.
Fritz, for his part, has embraced Riddle’s bold approach. During a 2022 press conference, he defended her viral content, saying, “I think what she did was awesome for our sport. It got a ton of people looking at it.” Their shared mission to make tennis “cool again” has resonated, with Fritz’s on-court success—two grass-court titles this season and a US Open final appearance last year—complementing Riddle’s efforts to redefine the role of a tennis WAG. As Fritz prepares to face two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals, he carries not only his own ambitions but the strength of a partnership that thrives on mutual support. “I’m really happy with how I’ve turned my career around over the last four years,” Fritz reflected, a testament to the hard work and the woman by his side who helped turn a private rant into a public triumph.
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