Taylor Fritz to meet ATP player who took ‘Jab’ on him last year in potentially heated rematch at the Dallas Open

American Star Fritz is now turning his focus to the 2025 Dallas Open, where he is the top seed of a tournament involving a long list of his countrymen.

Frances Teafoe, Ben Shelton, Tommy Paul and Alex Michelsen all take on the ATP 500 event that will be started on February 3rd.

But Fritz will be the player to see, not only because of his grafting, but because of his first round draw against Arthur Rinderknech.

Taylor Fritz and Arthur Rinderknech sets to potentially heated rematch at Dallas Open

The duo has only met twice in their careers so far, but has already managed to arouse quite a rivalry ahead of their next meeting.

It started when Fritz shot the crowd after beating the Frenchman in the second round of 2023 French Open, with Rinderknech, who shared his dissatisfaction with such actions ahead of their match on Wimbledon a year later.

Fritz secured another victory in the second round and was asked at his winning press conference if he listened to his opponent’s thoughts before the match, and actually if it gave him extra motivation to win.

Read more: Arthur Rinderknech accuses Taylor Fritz of ‘Crying’ and Be ‘Whiny’ ahead of their Wimbledon -Kamp

“Yes, usually I don’t, but it’s hard not, when I naturally assume that someone kind goes out of their way of taking a jab on you,” he said.

“It’s hard not to see it because everyone just goes to feel me and make sure I see it. As soon as I saw it, the fight was basically past.

“Of course, it gives me extra fire. I am a very chill person. I don’t do anything that could rub people in the wrong way, so when someone just goes out of their way of taking a shot at me, I won’t just take it.

“It gave me the extra fire to win. When we shook hands, I just said, ‘Have a nice flight home’. He asked me what I said. I told him what I said.

“He told me he was still in double. I said, ‘Oh, congratulations, good for you’. Then he started to behave like ‘why are you blah, blah, among other things?’

“I’m like,” Dude, you know what you said. You know what you said. Don’t respect me before the match, and then expect me to be nice after the match. That’s not how it works. “

Taylor Fritz and Arthur Rinderknech out of form in front of Dallas Open Clash

Fritz definitely made himself a villain at Roland Garros after his first meeting with Rinderknech, which he won 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.

The number of nine seeds at that time felt clearly under fire from the French open fans who made their feelings towards the American very clear after he rioted them up on the field.

Read more: Tennis fans say all the same after Taylor Fritz’s actions after his victory over Arthur Rinderknech in Wimbledon

Fritz then won the highly expected rematch on Wimbledon 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, with a third consecutive victory now on the cards.

But he is out of shape and goes into the match, with a shocked Australian open loss to Monfils, coming after the recent final performances on the US Open and ATP final.

His upcoming opponent Rinderknech, meanwhile, fell at the first obstacle in Melbourne and lost a five-set thriller to Fritz’s compatriot Tiafoe, while just suffering another round of Montpellier.

Related topics