Raquel Pedraza was in the spotlight when she married top American tennis player Taylor Fritz in 2018. However, Pedraza had a successful tennis career before retiring from the sport. This article will look in-depth at Raquel Pedraza’s tennis accomplishments and what happened to her job after marrying Taylor Fritz.
Early Life and Tennis Career
Raquel Pedraza was born in 1995 in Guadalajara, Mexico. She started playing tennis at a young age and succeeded as a junior player, ranking 27th in the world in girls’ singles in 2012. After turning pro in 2013, Pedraza played primarily on the ITF Women’s Circuit. Her breakthrough came in 2016 when she won her first $60,000 ITF title in San Luis Potosí, Mexico.
Success on the WTA Tour
In 2017, Pedraza qualified for her first-ever prominent draw appearance at a WTA Tour event at the Monterrey Open. She created an upset by defeating world number 71 Lara Arruabarrena in the first round. This launched Pedraza into the top 200 of the WTA singles rankings for the first time. Later that year, she reached the semifinals of $100,000 ITF events in both Mar del Plata and Saguenay. Her ranking rose to a career-high of 154th in the world in July 2017.
Marriage to Taylor Fritz
In November 2017, after two years of dating, Pedraza married American tennis pro Taylor Fritz. Fritz was establishing himself in the top 50 on the ATP Tour then. By marrying Fritz, Pedraza gained media attention as she was now the wife of a rising American star. However, marriage and relocating to the U.S. impacted Pedraza’s tennis career.
Winding Down Her Career
After marrying Fritz, Pedraza slowed down her playing schedule on tour in 2018. She reached the quarterfinals of a $60K ITF event in Stockton, California, but suffered a number of early-round defeats. Pedraza’s ranking dropped out of the top 200. In July 2018, she made the tough decision to retire from professional tennis at 23, citing a desire to focus on family life with Fritz.
Life After Retirement
Since retiring, Pedraza has supported Fritz’s tennis career from the sidelines. She accompanies him on tour and can be seen in his player box at major tournaments. Pedraza also runs a concierge business called R.P. Concierge, helping provide various services for sports stars and their families. While her playing days are over, Pedraza remains involved in tennis through her marriage to one of America’s top male players.
Legacy on Tour
Despite retiring at a young age, Raquel Pedraza had a solid four-year professional career. She achieved her highest WTA ranking of 154th in 2017 and one $60K ITF title. Her biggest win came over former top 75 player Arruabarrena. While marrying Fritz meant leaving the tour earlier than expected, Pedraza established herself as one of her generation’s top Mexican women’s tennis players. She remains respected within the sport for her accomplishments.
Early Junior Success
Pedraza began playing tennis at age 5 in her native Guadalajara. She showed promise early on and entered her first ITF junior tournament at 12. By 14, Pedraza cracked the top 100 in the ITF junior rankings. Her best result came in 2012 when she reached the third round of the French Open Junior Girls’ Singles. This performance helped boost her junior ranking to a career-high of 27th.
College Tennis in the U.S.
After turning pro, Pedraza spent one-year playing college tennis for the University of Southern California in 2014-2015. This allowed her to gain experience competing in the NCAA system in the United States. While at USC, she posted an impressive 18-5 record in singles and helped the Trojans reach the NCAA Tournament. The college tennis exposure would serve Pedraza well in her future professional career.
Breaking Through in Monterrey
Qualifying for her first WTA main draw at the 2017 Abierto GNP Seguros was a breakthrough for Pedraza. In the first round, she stunned world number 71 Arruabarrena in straight sets. This giant-killing victory put Pedraza on the radar of tennis fans in Mexico. The hometown favorite lost a competitive three-set match to world number 48 Shelby Rogers in the next round.
Success on the ITF Circuit
Pedraza found her most significant successes on the ITF Circuit outside of her WTA results. Between 2016 and 2017, she won one $60K title and reached four other semifinals or finals at the $60K and $100K levels. These deep ITF runs helped boost Pedraza’s ranking inside the top 200. She showed consistent ability on the ITF Circuit to take advantage of opportunities.
Move to the U.S.
After marrying Fritz in late 2017, Pedraza took up residence with him in the United States. This meant adjusting to a new country and climate while balancing marriage and career. Her schedule became less busy as she focused more on supporting Fritz’s training and competition. The lifestyle changes put Pedraza at a disadvantage, competing regularly on tour.
Player vs. Supporting Role
Going from being a professional athlete to supporting someone else’s career was an adjustment for Pedraza. While she always backed Fritz, it took more work to stay motivated playing secondary events while putting her husband first. The lifestyle change accelerated Pedraza’s decision to retire and transition to full-time support for Fritz’s tennis dreams.
Conclusion
Raquel Pedraza was a talented tennis player who succeeded on the ITF Circuit and reached the top 200 WTA singles rankings. But her career was cut short when she married American star Taylor Fritz and prioritized family over playing. Pedraza remains dedicated to supporting Fritz’s career from the sidelines. She set an excellent example of balancing professional sports and personal life commitments.
