Taylor Fritz reacts to Daniil Medvedev’s comments about the tennis balls at the ATP Finals and points out the only ‘problem’ with them

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Taylor Fritz fell short against Jannik Sinner in his second group game, leaving him with work to do to qualify for the ATP Finals semi-finals.

Fritz qualified for the ATP Finals after another strong year on the ATP Tour, winning two titles, at Delray Beach and Eastbourne.

Fritz also reached the US Open final, losing out to Sinner in straight sets, his best Grand Slam result to date.

His results in 2024 saw Fritz rise to a career-high of fifth in the rankings, heading into the ATP Finals with a lot of momentum.

Momentum that saw Fritz win his opening match at the ATP Finals against Daniil Medvedev, someone who recently gave his thoughts on the tennis balls used on the ATP Tour.

Taylor Fritz reveals the one problem with the tennis balls on the ATP Tour

Medvedev has been struggling with the tennis balls used on the ATP Tour for the past three years, something that he revealed following his defeat to Fritz in Turin.

Following his 6-4, 6-4 defeat to Sinner at the ATP Finals, Fritz was asked for his thoughts on the tennis balls on the ATP Tour, after Medvedev’s recent comments.

“I haven’t necessarily noticed the quality, let’s say of the Dunlop balls, I haven’t thought they have got a lot worse,” he said.

“It’s really tough for me to remember what it felt like pre-2020.

“I think I have really dialled into how everything feels more than ever over the last couple of years.”

Fritz went on to explain the one problem he has found with the tennis balls on tour.

“I think the biggest issue with the balls, which are probably the balls we play with the most, and most players agree this is the most consistent ball we play with, but when it’s humid they get massive,” he said.

“I did hear about the factory changes during Covid and I have noticed it with other company’s balls.

“The biggest one I have noticed with is the Wilson US Open balls.

“I feel like they can be completely different balls from different weeks, from when we play Toronto, Cincinnati, Montreal.

“Last year when we played Montreal to Cincinnati you cannot tell me those were the same balls we were playing with both weeks.

“There’s no chance.”

Fritz also mentioned that some of the tennis balls that are being used seem to be a lot different to what he’s used to.

“A good example is the Wilson balls we used for the Laver Cup and in Shanghai,” he said.

“They feel great, you feel like you can’t miss a ball.

“But it’s very hard to hit a winner, those balls are probably only acceptable to play with on a really fast court.”

Can Taylor Fritz become the first American to win the ATP Finals in 25 years?

With a win and a loss in his first two matches at the ATP Finals, Fritz can still qualify for the semi-finals when he plays Alex de Minaur on Thursday.

He’ll be hoping to advance to the last four, which he reached on debut in 2022, where he lost to eventual champion Novak Djokovic.

If he were to go all the way in Turin he would end a 25 year drought for Americans at the ATP Finals.

Pete Sampras’ triumph in an all-American clash against Andre Agassi in Hannover back in 1999, was the last time someone from the United States took home the trophy.

In fact, it was James Blake who came closest back in 2006, losing to Roger Federer in straight sets, the last time an American set foot in the final.

Since then a whole host of American stars have qualified for the event, but none have been able to come home with the trophy.

Fritz will be hoping to finally turn around American fortunes at the season-ending finals with a trophy in Turin.

Fritz will return to court to face off against a winless De Minaur on Thursday.