Taylor Fritz recently underwent a significant look change, and he explained his decision ahead of the 2024 Paris Masters.
Tennis players, like any athletes, usually like to turn heads because of their performances. Fritz certainly did that recently, reaching the 2024 US Open final, which he lost to Jannik Sinner.
It was arguably one of the best results of his tennis career, certainly close to his Indian Wells Open triumph in 2022. The American was a well-known player also before his run to the US Open final, but his success at Flushing Meadows certainly boosted his popularity.
As such, the 27-year-old is now recognized by fans around the United States even more. However, those who didn't remember how his face looked very well could be in trouble when trying to recognize him in the coming weeks.
Fritz underwent a significant change when he decided to turn blonde, something that became apparent when his picture from Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, where he stood on stage with Norwegian DJ Kygo, became public.
Fans immediately shared their reactions to Fritz's new hair color, and the American player himself reacted to those reactions, saying he thought that such change would be funny, which the reactions just confirmed.
"A lot of people asking me why? ... No reason other than I just thought it would be funny. After seeing all the reactions and overreactions, I was right, it’s hilarious."
Fritz's girlfriend, Morgan Riddle, also shared a story about the 2024 US Open finalist's change with her followers. She shared a screenshot of their messages, telling her fans that she was also unaware of his move, claiming: "Would just like everyone to know I was also blindsided by this."
In the screenshot of the messages that she shared with her audience, Riddle was seen texting the ATP player: "I didn’t think you actually would. I thought you were just getting a haircut. Oh My God."
After flying from the United States to Europe for the remainder of the 2024 ATP season, Fritz's haircut immediately stole the show again. He was even asked about it in an interview with ATP, saying that he wanted to do it for quite some time already.
"Oh, years. I feel like I have polled it every year at the Australian Open. I thought it was funny. I expected to just buzz it if I hated it, but I don’t hate it."
During the same interview, the American tennis player was also asked whether it was true that 'blondes have more fun.' He felt like he wasn't qualified to answer that yet, but he hopes for it to be true.
"You know, we haven’t… we’re gonna have to wait and see, but hopefully."
While Fritz certainly turned heads with this drastic change, it could also be a genius move from him. After winning the US Open, he also reached the Shanghai Masters final, and he might be entering the Paris Masters and the ATP Finals as one of the dark horses.
Taking the attention away from his results with his new hairstyle might certainly prove to relieve some of the pressure that he might have had to face otherwise.