Taylor Fritz responds to Shanghai Masters slow court criticism: "The ball we switched to this week is just really slow"
ATP
Taylor
Fritz responded to Daniil Medvedev's criticisms of the courts at the Shanghai
Masters.
The Russian
tennis player had a successful start in the tournament's second round as the
second seed, defeating Chilean world No. 98 Cristian Garin 6-3, 6-3. However,
the defending champion wasn't pleased with the condition of the court on the
central court, particularly regarding the speed of the surface.
"To go
back-to-back tournaments so fast, different balls, different surface so that's
very tricky," said Medvedev.
"Before
was one of probably the fastest on tour. Now I don't know what's slower here or
Indian Wells. So yeah it is what it is. Have to play like this, I managed even
on slow hard courts this season to play well so that's what I'm going to try to
do," he added.
The
American world No. 10, Taylor Fritz, didn't miss Medvedev's comments and shared
his opinion regarding the court's speed. According to him, the courts remain
the same as usual, and the difference lies in the type of tennis balls being
used.
“Courts are
actually as fast as they always are…. The ball we switched to this week is just
really slow,” Fritz said.
The
25-year-old American overcame a tough first round where he had to work hard to
defeat Yosuke Watanuki in three sets, with a score of 7-6(2), 6-7(6), 6-4. In
the third round, he is still awaiting his opponent from the match between Jiri
Lehecka (27th) and Diego Schwartzmann.
On
Medvedev's side, he faces a tough opponent in Sebastian Korda (26th). The
Russian was the last champion of the tournament, although the previous edition
was in 2019 before the Shanghai Masters was suspended due to pandemic
restrictions. In that final, he defeated the German Alexander Zverev
convincingly with a score of 6-4, 6-1, securing his second consecutive Masters
1000 title after the Cincinnati Open.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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