Taylor Fritz Goes on ‘Massive Tennis Ball Rant’ After Shock US Open Exit

Taylor Fritz was in no mood to talk to anyone when he crashed out of the US Open. In the third round, the home favorite had a comfortable two-sets-to-love lead initially, but Francisco Cerundolo ended up eking out the win.

Days after his upset, the 2024 US Open runner-up took to X and went on a rant about the Wilson tennis balls, claiming the ones used for training are completely different from those that are used during tournaments. Fritz, however, made it clear that he is not making an excuse for his defeat and that he liked the tournament balls.

Massive tennis ball rant incoming. After playing Washington, Cincinnati, and the US Open, plus a full week of training in New York beforehand, I got a VERY good feel for the Wilson US Open balls we were using and know EXACTLY what they should feel like off my racket. They were good balls, and I have no complaints about what we played with at those tournaments this summer.

Fritz said players should train with the exact same balls used during tournaments. He joked that the only positive he took from playing with these practice balls is that he had been getting a good cardio workout, as he had to swing his racket hard to hit the ball.

But since coming home, my last two days of practice with Wilson US Open balls have been miserable. They are sold, marketed, and labeled as the same balls, but the way they come off my racket and feel couldn’t be more different. After that many weeks using the tournament balls, I know exactly how they respond. The balls I’m practicing with feel like literal green-dot kids’ balls: incredibly soft, dead, and going nowhere.

Taylor Fritz added

He also said that training with these balls is a lot less enjoyable and less productive. Fritz further hit back at those who are criticizing him, calling them “illiterate” for misinterpreting what he wrote, and telling them to “seek help”.

Massive tennis ball rant incoming.

After playing Washington, Cincinnati, and the US Open, plus a full week of training in New York beforehand, I got a VERY good feel for the Wilson US Open balls we were using and know EXACTLY what they should feel like off my racket. They were…

— Taylor Fritz (@Taylor_Fritz97) September 10, 2026

Rennae Stubbs on what Taylor Fritz must improve after his US Open defeat

Taylor Fritz has played four finals this season, winning only the Citi Open by beating rising star Rafael Jodar, losing the Dallas Open and the Stuttgart Open to compatriot Ben Shelton, and the Halle Open to compatriot Frances Tiafoe. The 28-year-old was expected to make at least a deep run in his home Slam, where he had made the quarterfinals in the previous three seasons, including the final in 2024, losing to Jannik Sinner in straight sets.

After his third-round exit, Fritz was told by Serena Williams‘ coach Rennae Stubbs that he must improve his net game or else he will continue to lose matches. Speaking on her The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast, Stubbs said:

It’s amazing to me that… Taylor Fritz is a similar height to Jannik Sinner. I think Jannik moves slightly better, but not much. Taylor moves quite well. He moves well. But here’s the difference. And I will say it. I don’t care what anyone says. I will say it until I’m blue in the face. Until he improves his net game, he will lose matches like this. Because Jannik Sinner will step up, and he will go for it. And he will go forward.

The US Open is underway and will be wrapped up on Sunday (September 13). Fritz, in 2024, became the first American man since Andy Roddick‘s win at the 2003 US Open to reach a Grand Slam final.

As Tiafoe and Shelton have reached the semifinals, it will ensure that another American man will reach the final. In the other semifinal, Alexander Zverev will face Karen Khachanov.

Also read: Megyn Kelly Slams Naomi Osaka’s US Open Fashion Choices: “Looks Like Someone Ran Over Her Cat”