Taylor Fritz has assured fans he is feeling fine after being forced to retire from his match at the Citi Open due to the sweltering conditions in Washington.
The world No.13 was leading Dan Evans by a set and a break before the Brit fought back to lead 3-6, 7-6(6), 4-1. As the match progressed Fritz was visibly struggling in the conditions on what was an extremely humid day. The temperature soared to above 95 degrees amid a National Weather Service heat advisory.
Fritz ended up retiring from the match due to a heat-related illness. Writing on social media afterwards, he said he felt ‘embarrassed’ about having to pull out.
“First off, health wise I’m okay. I feel embarrassed not being able to finish a match. I’ve never pulled out of a match in my life but after my episode in Toronto last year where I pushed myself to finish the match and almost passed out, I assured my team I would pull out if similar symptoms happened again,” Fritz explained.
“Typically, I pride myself on my fitness and ability to compete in very hot/ humid, brutal conditions.”
The 24-year-old went on to reveal that his training leading up to the tournament has been hampered by a foot injury he has sustained. He confirmed that he has been receiving treatment since Wimbledon where he reached the quarter-finals before losing to Rafael Nadal in five sets.
“Many don’t know this but I have been in a boot since Wimbledon and although I have been doing heavy fitness while in the boot, no amount of assault bike in the gym can prepare you for playing a long match in these type of conditions,” he continued.
“I started practice on court again this Saturday so playing here in DC was definitely ambitious but I’m really happy with my actual level of tennis and I’m really happy that my foot is feeling good. Today I constantly felt like I was going to pass out, my vision was going fuzzy, and the only thing that can really prepare me for playing in these conditions… is playing in these conditions.”
Fritz has already won two titles this season, including his first Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells. More recently he also won the Eastbourne International for the second time in his career.
It wasn’t just Fritz who struggled in the heat with others speaking out about the conditions at the combined tournament. Emma Raducanu said she ‘almost died three times’ during her marathon match that lasted more than two-and-a-half hours. Meanwhile, Sweden’s Elias Ymer described tennis as ‘one of the toughest’ sports to play.
“Conditions are very tough,” Ymer said following his 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-4 win over Emil Ruusuvuori. “I think we are playing one of the toughest sports on this planet because, besides dealing with the heat, you also have to constantly make so many decisions. I run a lot because my dad was a runner. . . . When I run in the heat, I can just focus [on the] next step [and] grind it out. But [in tennis], you’re grinding, and at the same time, you have this opponent that you have to beat.”
The erratic weather resulted in play being suspended on Thursday evening due to lightning in the area. Grigor Dimitrov, Nick Kyrgios and Frances Tiafoe will have to resume their third round matches on Friday.
