How did Taylor Fritz and Morgan Riddle meet? What we know about the tennis - influencer power couple

As he bids to become the first American man to win the US Open in over two decades, Taylor Fritz is being cheered on by girlfriend Morgan Riddle - an influencer who has said she’s out to “make tennis cool again”.

Who is Fritz’s girlfriend Morgan Riddle?

A social-media personality with six-figure followings on Instagram and TikTok, as well as 80,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel, Riddle posts about fashion, beauty and travel. She jets around the world with Fritz on the tennis tour, regularly sharing images and videos of her experiences of supporting her boyfriend, who is currently the No. 12-ranked men’s player.

In February 2022, Riddle was at the centre of an internet storm when she took to TikTok to describe tennis as “relatively uncool and unknown in America”, adding that she was on a “personal mission” to change that.

There was an instant backlash to her post, with many social-media users letting it be known, in no uncertain terms, that they disagreed with her assessment of tennis’ status in the US. “Tennis fans […] on TikTok came for me,” Riddle told the Fan Behaviour podcast that September. “Came for me in the comments.”

Although she conceded that some of her “wording” could have been more carefully chosen, the 27-year-old said she stood by her comments. “I said ‘relatively’, which means, like, in relation to baseball or football or basketball,” she argued. “You know, tennis is just not as much of a mainstream sport in this country.” Speaking to reporters in March 2022, Fritz said he agreed “100%” with his girlfriend’s sentiments: “Tennis isn’t talked about on [major US sports TV channel] ESPN unless it’s a very select few or unless it’s certain circumstances.”

When and how did Fritz and Riddle meet?

Fritz began dating Riddle in 2020, after meeting her on the dating app Raya. Recalling the pair’s first date, Riddle told an interview with People magazine: “Because it was during covid, no restaurants were open, no bars were open so we ordered sushi. We went to his place and I made him watch Midsommar with me, the really messed up horror movie. Why I chose that as my first introduction to a guy, I don’t really know. I think I traumatized him a little bit.”

Fritz was previously married to the American tennis player Raquel Pedraza, with whom he shares a son, Jordan. Fritz and Pedraza divorced in 2019.

Can Fritz end US men’s drought in New York?

Fritz takes on world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in today’s US Open men’s singles final, after beating compatriot Frances Tiafoe in a five-set epic in the last four on Friday. The California native, who has never reached a Grand Slam final before in his career, will seek to become the first American male to taste singles glory at Flushing Meadows since Andy Roddick in 2003. Fritz faces Sinner at Arthur Ashe Stadium at 2:00 p.m. ET/11:00 a.m. PT.

The Italian will be appearing in his second Grand Slam final, having won the 2024 Australian Open with victory over Daniil Medvedev in January.