Taylor Fritz has stated that, despite his disapproval of the tennis calendar, he does not agree with players who are criticized for participating in exhibition events.
Tennis players have expressed dissatisfaction with the length and intensity of the season, putting scheduling under inquiry in recent months.
WTA world No. 1 Iga Swiatek has frequently criticized the tennis schedule, and ATP stars Alexander Zverev, Jannik Sinner, and Carlos Alcaraz have all recently voiced their opinions on the controversy.
John Millman, a former ATP player, is one of those who has recently entered the discussion. He stated on X that if players continue to play multiple exhibition events, reducing the calendar would be difficult to sell.
Millman wrote: “There’s always been calls to have a smaller tournament schedule but it’s a hard sell when in off weeks players chase $$ exhibitions. Then you factor in those playing on future and challenger tours, who might need those “off weeks” to play and make the little money they can.”
Fritz remarked in response to Millman’s post that he did not consider exhibitions to be at all comparable to competing in an ATP or WTA event.
Fritz said: “I agree that it’s tough for the tour to shorten the schedule when players will just play Exos to fill the time, and I’ve seen a lot of people criticizing some of the players asking for a shorter season because they go and play Exo. I don’t understand that part of the argument, because playing an exo vs a tour event aren’t comparable to each other in terms of burnout — physically and especially mentally. A tour event can be 5+ days of playing all out and mentally being dialled in on all things on and off court, versus an exo you show up, have some fun and entertain for a match or two.”
He added: “You don’t have to all-out push your body and there is absolutely 0 mental fatigue or stress. In a lot of ways, an Exo is a lot like a rest week and shouldn’t be compared 1:1 with a tour event. I don’t expect non-players to fully comprehend what I mean by this because it’s tough to judge the mental and physical fatigue that playing tour weeks entails if you are not a part of it, but I would fully expect players to understand what I mean by this.”
Taylor Fritz in 2024
Currently the world no.7, Taylor played his last match on the 26th of September when he capitulated to world no.24 Arthur Fils 6-4 3-6 6-3 in the 1st round in Tokyo (draw).
During this season Fritz has managed to achieve a composed 45-19 win-loss record. Fritz clinched 2 titles in 2024 in Delray Beach and Eastbourne. Fritz was the runner-up in Munich and U.S. Open.
Taylor Fritz will face the world no.9 Casper Ruud in the Round Robin. Their head to head is 2-1 for Ruud.
The American conquered 2 titles in 2024 in Delray Beach and Eastbourne. Fritz was the runner-up in Munich (BMW Open) and at the U.S. Open.
Fritz won 9 titles in his career: 6 on hard courts and 3 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
Taylor Fritz |
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