Taylor Fritz Reveals Why He Smashed His Racket After Easy Win in Cincinnati

Taylor Fritz cruised past compatriot Alex Michelsen 6-3, 6-4 in the opening round of the Cincinnati Masters. Although Fritz won the match easily, he experienced strong emotions during the match.

In the opening game, the 2024 US Open runner-up flung his racket before destroying it after losing his serve. Later, during his on-court interview, he revealed what led to him smashing his racket so early in the match.

If I can’t serve, my serve stops being one of my best weapons. I stepped out on the side where the wind was helping me; I clearly should have held serve, and I only hit a first serve, to which he returned a winner. Then I double-faulted and had to play the rest of the points with my second serve. It frustrated me a lot, and everything exploded in the first game.

Fritz has now improved his head-to-head record over Michelsen to 2-2. This was their third meeting this season after the third round of Indian Wells and the quarterfinal of the Citi Open.

Sometimes you just have to explode and let it all out, and that helped me move forward. I think if I’d tried to keep it all inside, I might not have been able to turn things around so quickly.

Taylor Fritz added

Fritz will next be locking horns with Daniel Merida Aguilar, who beat Zizou Bergs in the previous round. If Fritz reaches the fourth round, he could set up a match against Joao Fonseca.

Before arriving in Cincinnati, the 28-year-old suffered an opening-round exit at the Canadian Open, losing to Thiago Agustin Tirante, who was the reason behind Novak Djokovic‘s upset in the opening round of the ongoing tournament.

Fritz has never made it past the quarterfinals of the Cincinnati Masters, reaching the stage twice in 2022 and 2023. Last year, he suffered a fourth-round exit. He is a one-time champion in Masters 1000 events, winning in 2022 by defeating 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal.

Taylor Fritz admitted he wanted to withdraw from the Canadian Open

Taylor Fritz would rather win a tournament one week, even if he loses the next, than play better every week. That’s what happened in the previous two events he played.

He clinched the Citi Open title by defeating Rafael Jodar and then crashed out in the opening-round match in Montreal. Before starting his campaign in Cincinnati, the American ace told Tennis TV that he wanted to pull out of the tournament due to an injury unrelated to his persistent knee problem.

I had to cut my practice short the day before. To be honest, I probably should have pulled out part way through my match. I had an injury that really flared up. Not my knee. I don’t really want to talk about it. Just really inflamed, really irritated, and yeah, I shouldn’t have played, to be honest.

Fritz has so far played four finals this season. After losing the Dallas Open to Ben Shelton, Fritz lost the Stuttgart Open to his compatriot. Then Frances Tiafoe beat him in the Halle Open final, before he finally ended his title drought at the Citi Open.

In Cincinnati, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz is not playing. His name was on the entry list at first, but he chose to withdraw to continue his recovery from the wrist injury he suffered during the Barcelona Open.

Last year’s runner-up Jannik Sinner is also not in Cincinnati due to a knee injury. Their participation at the US Open is now in doubt. The five-time Grand Slam champion has won the most titles this season on the men’s tour (six), and all in big events.

Also read: Coco Gauff’s Ex-Coach Demands Tennis Rule Overhaul After Novak Djokovic’s Loss at Cincinnati