Looks like 2025 isn’t the year for three-peats. First it was Aryna Sabalenka who couldn’t complete it and now Taylor Fritz! The American tennis sensation stepped onto the courts of the Delray Beach Open aiming to secure his third consecutive title at the ATP 250 event. The World No.4 known for his aggressive, first-strike tennis, battled the humid South Florida conditions to make it to the quarter-finals. But his hopes came crashing down at the hands of World No. 60 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who took him out in straight sets—7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/5). The upset itself was enough to turn heads, but it wasn’t the only thing that had people talking. So what happened?
The match took an unexpected turn late in the second set. With Davidovich Fokina leading 6-5 and Fritz serving to stay in the set, the Spaniard called for a medical time-out. He appeared to be struggling with back pain and took treatment right before Fritz’s crucial service game. This move didn’t sit well with everyone. Tennis analyst José Morgado took to X to express his frustration, writing, “Shouldn’t be allowed to stop a match for a medical time-out before your opponent’s service game, especially when your opponent is serving to stay in the match…”
Davidovich Fokina.
“I apologized to Taylor because I was really feeling my back in the end of the second set. I didn’t do it on purpose. I had to take 5 or 6 pills to be able to play”.
Good words from Davidovich on court. https://t.co/t500LRyyQk
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) February 15, 2025
After sealing the win, Fokina addressed the situation in his on-court interview. “I apologized to Taylor because I was really feeling my back in the end of the second set. I didn’t do it on purpose. I had to take 5 or 6 pills to be able to play,” he clarified. Despite the controversy, the 25-year-old made the most of his opportunities. He converted all three of his break points and secured his place in the semi-finals. Up next, he’ll face Italian fourth seed Matteo Arnaldi, who defeated American Brandon Nakashima 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 to reach the semis.
For Fritz, this loss adds to a frustrating start to the 2025 season. The American finished last year on a high but hasn’t quite found that same rhythm so far.
Taylor Fritz has had a disappointing start to the 2025 season
Taylor Fritz’s season kicked off on a strong note at the United Cup, where he played a key role in Team USA’s championship run. Carrying that momentum into the Australian Open, the World No. 4 looked sharp in his opening two rounds. But his campaign ended in a stunning upset as veteran Gaël Monfils secured a thrilling 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(1), 6-4 victory.
Hoping to bounce back at the Dallas Open, Fritz started well with a routine straight-set win over Arthur Rinderknech. But in the next round, he bumped into Denis Shapovalov who is probably playing the best tennis of his life at the moment. Rallying from a set down, the Canadian stunned the top seed 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(2).
Fritz has had a couple of early exits this season now. Despite the setbacks, however, the US Open finalist isn’t one to dwell on losses. In an interview with Racquet on January 27, he reflected on his current ranking and his drive to keep improving.
“I mean, we all wanna be that guy. I’m always looking for ways that I can improve my game, always analyzing matches that I lose, trying to figure out what things I realistically can be better at and I keep working hard and once I kind of do something and set, I guess, a new best for myself, I find it much easier to replicate and do it again… What I feel pressure-wise is what I’m putting on myself because I have very high expectations,” he said.
For now, Fritz will need to regroup and figure out what’s missing in his game. Can he turn things around before the bigger tournaments roll in? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
The post “Didn’t Do It on Purpose” – Taylor Fritz Receives Sincere Apology from Spanish Rival Amid Medical Timeout Controversy appeared first on EssentiallySports.