Tennis enthusiasts and pundits are always on the lookout for new players. Such is the case that the world keeps a keen eye on college-level tennis matches too. This was yet again proven by a recent Twitter fiasco that involves world no. 8, Taylor Fritz. Fritz, who retweeted a video of foul play in a college tennis match at Radford, has not shied away from talking about his own experiences.
In addition to Fritz, Brad Gilbert, the popular tennis coach and ESPN analyst, is appalled at this show of poor sportsmanship on the court. While both tennis icons shared their opinion of what they think should be the right way to call out cheaters, fans too had their share of opinions on the matter.
Taylor Fritz would not stop if provoked
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Fritz reacted and reposted a video where a college-level tennis player calls out a ball, even though it is right in the middle of the court. As the chair umpire was absent from this match, the incident has drawn a lot of attention online. However, as he is on camera, there are no excuses or justifications to this obvious foul play.
I thought the guy who booked Blumberg aka “10”a couple years ago was bad but this is another level @bgtennisnation red card or yellow card? https://t.co/kR2CnrOH1U
— marc lucero (@marclucero) February 6, 2023
Fritz agreed that during his junior-level days, he would often avenge a cheater this same way. Although there is no evidence to know whether the player was provoked, Fritz said that a “make it even” call is always the best treatment for cheaters. However, the 2015 Junior World Champion stood by his stance and said, “if this call is unprovoked, then that’s disgusting.”
I was an overly nice line caller in jr’s but honestly when someone was cheating me really bad this is how I handled it, call a random ball out and they wont mess w u again. Is that what’s happening here? Who knows… but if this call is unprovoked then that’s disgusting 😂 https://t.co/BGmLZQAHN7
— Taylor Fritz (@Taylor_Fritz97) February 7, 2023
It’s gotta be a “make it even call” always been the best way to deal with cheaters
— Taylor Fritz (@Taylor_Fritz97) February 7, 2023
Of the many comments on his tweet, one is by tennis coach Brad Gilbert. He straight out ruled this misdemeanor with a red-card. For him, that would be the real make-it-even call.
that for a make up even call, should be a permanent red card suspension
— Brad Gilbert (@bgtennisnation) February 7, 2023
Fritz replied to Gilbert, saying that he did this a lot of times during his younger days.
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Fritz’ growth from a prodigy to one of best players on the Tour
In 2015, Taylor Fritz was the quarter-finalist in all four Junior Grand Slam events. He won the US Open by defeating fellow American Tommy Paul, who beat him in a similar fashion at the French Open. This pushed him to finish 2015 as the top-ranked junior tennis player (boys).
Fritz is the first American to be called the Junior World Champion since his predecessors, Donald Young (2005) and Andy Roddick (2000). After stepping into the professional men’s circuit, the American had his breakthrough season in 2022. After defeating the 22-time Grand Slam champion, Rafael Nadal, to win the Indian Wells, Fritz reached his first Grand Slam quarterfinal at the Wimbledon Championships. Despite ending the season in disappointing fashion by crashing out of the US Open in the initial rounds, Fritz will be looking to climb further in the ATP rankings in 2023.
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Can Fritz end the Grand Slam drought of American players? Or will it be another American star? Let us know in the comments.