On Thursday, in a stunningly quick 79-minute match, Jack Draper defeated Taylor Fritz 7-5, 6-4, eliminating the home favorite and 2022 champion from the 2025 Indian Wells Open. But the match itself wasn’t the only talking point. Fritz, who has been vocal about the growing importance of fashion in tennis, has been known for his bold hairstyle choices. After his NY Fashion Week comments, he’s had a few hits and misses. Now, the tennis world is buzzing about his mid-tournament haircut. What’s the verdict?

Taylor Fritz started this tournament quite impressively, securing a 6-3,7-5 win over Italy’s Matteo Gigante. However, in the next match, it took him three sets to beat Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo. Shortly after securing his spot in the R16, Fritz shared a few words on his R16 opponent. Speaking on Jack Draper, he added, “I think it’s a tough draw to get him in the round of 16 as a top-4 seed. He’s a very good player. I think he’s probably better than his ranking is, and yeah, we have had some tight ones.”

Jack Draper’s meteoric ascent has been a major talking point over the past year, and his stunning victory over the world No. 4 at Indian Wells perfectly illustrated why. Draper’s dominance was undeniable, as he won seven consecutive games, turning a 4-5 deficit in the first set into a commanding 4-0 lead in the second. But what were Draper’s thoughts after securing this career-defining win?

“I felt great. It is the best match I have played here so far in the three years I have been here. I was happy with the way I was sharp. I moved great and competed well. There were a few moments here and there which I was brave, which I spoke to my coach about before the match. When you have chances against these types of players. Taylor is such an amazing player, so to come through in the way I did I am very proud of that,” said the Brit.

Following Taylor Fritz’s defeat, Ben Shelton now carries the torch for American men at Indian Wells this year. As Fritz looks ahead to the Miami Open, where he reached the quarterfinals two years ago, the question remains: can he bounce back with a strong performance? While his Indian Wells run is over, the conversation continues, as his new haircut has become the unexpected focal point, overshadowing his disappointing exit.

Following Fritz’s exit, fans came out in numbers to share their thoughts. 

Fans left unimpressed with Taylor Fritz’s new haircut in Indian Wells

When was the last time Taylor Fritz’s hairstyle became the talk of the town? Well, we don’t have to go too far as in October last year, Fritz received a similar backlash for his blonde look. Interestingly, he was taking part in the Paris Masters at that time, and coincidentally, Jack Draper was his opponent in R32. Even there, Draper got the better of the American! Even this time, fans didn’t look too pleased with his new haircut. After seeing his new look, one of the fans commented, “He shouldn’t have cut his hair.“

Previously, we have seen Fritz asking fans multiple times on his IG account whether he should bleach his hair or not. However, his girlfriend, Morgan Riddle, was never a big fan of his blonde look. After seeing Fritz conducting a poll on whether he should try a blonde look, Riddle reposted that post with a caption saying, “Anyone who votes yes on this, I’ll personally fight you.” It seems everyone likes seeing Taylor Fritz in his long, natural hairs. In regards to his recent haricut, a fan was reminded of younger Taylor Fritz. “Bro transformed into 2016 Fritz with a simple haircut lol,” the fan joked.

A few of them highlighted the bad luck that came to him with his new haircut. “Bad move. Lost today. 🤣” opined a netizen. It’ll be interesting to see how Morgan Riddle reacts to this look, but if her reaction to her BFs blonde look from last is anything to go by, it won’t be positive. “I didn’t think you actually would. I thought you were just getting a haircut. Oh My God. Would just like everyone to know I was also blindsided by this,” she shared their hilarious conversation at that time.

However, not only Riddle but even Ben Shelton didn’t look too pleased with Taylor Fritz’s look at that time. Although at first he shared Fritz’s blonde look with the caption, “Kinda fire, tho @taylor_fritz,” he later on, amalgamated this reaction with a huge, “😭.” Perhaps indicating that he was also a bit unimpressed with that look. One fan this time commented, “big downgrade looks-wise.” If we take a look at the recent past, hairs aren’t the only cause of fans’ scrutiny for the American tennis player. 

Well, in September 2024, tennis stars Taylor Fritz and Matteo Berrettini walked for the German fashion brand, BOSS at the Milan Fashion Week. Fritz was seen in a layered look of a light blue button-down navy blazer and green turquoise overcoat. On the other side, Berrettini donned a classy light grey suit and long brown trench coat. After seeing them in that fashion show, fans were seen showcasing their dislike for Fritz’s look, but they showered praise on Berrettini at that time. Meanwhile, after seeing his new hairstyle, a fan wrote, “Looks like sh-t.” 

Taylor Fritz failed to impress his fans both on and off the court! What are your thoughts on his new haircut, though? Share your thoughts in the comment box.