Taylor Fritz Clarifies Confusion About Las Vegas Exhibition Scheduling Controversy
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Taylor Fritz explained why playing at an exhibition would not clash with his participation at the Mexican Open and hit out at those who assumed the players were prioritizing the exhibition.
The MGM Rewards Slam is an exhibition in Las Vegas scheduled for March 1st and 2nd. Jannik Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka, Naomi Osaka, Alexander Zverev, Tommy Paul, and Fritz were the players confirmed for it.
Some were confused by Fritz, Zverev, and Paul's signing up for the Mexican Open in Acapulco. The ATP 500 tournament's final is scheduled for March 1st, the same day the exhibition begins.
That led to concerns of a scheduling clash, which could have led to at least one of those three players missing the Mexican Open final to make sure they were back for the exhibition that undoubtedly awarded a significant fee.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Fritz confirmed that the exhibition's opening day will only feature a women's match between Sabalenka and Osaka and that all the men's action would be on the 2nd.
"Just to clarify, the women’s match is on the 1st and all the men’s matches are the 2nd. I wouldn’t sign up for an event that coincides with the finals of a potential tour event before the tournament EVEN starts 1.) that would be just setting yourself up for failure, and 2.) I’m pretty sure there’s rules against doing that in the first place."
That was always the most likely explanation for the initial confusion. Many will be relieved to see Fritz confirm that the integrity of ATP tournaments will not be jeopardized by a clash with an exhibition event.
However, the second half of Fritz's post was heated. Last year's US Open runner-up blasted those who assumed he, Zverev, and Paul would allow a scheduling conflict that might damage their chances of doing well in Acapulco.
"That being said, I'm pretty disappointed that people can’t figure that out for themselves and just assume the worst that we are all double booking an exo during the finals of an important event as if we aren’t planning on doing well at the tournament or something ridiculous along those lines."
Fritz's explanation has ended all controversy about the issue. The players might be taking a slight risk by participating in an exhibition the day after a final if any of them get there since their bodies could be at breaking point, but that is the trio's choice.
Exhibitions have become a more prominent topic in recent months. In October, Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev, and Holger Rune competed at the lucrative Six Kings Slam in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Sinner claimed the largest paycheck in tennis history for winning the Six Kings Slam. However, some criticized the hypocrisy of players complaining about the length of the tennis schedule but still finding time for exhibitions.
Alcaraz, one of the most vocal critics of the tennis calendar, was criticized again for participating in exhibitions against Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe last month despite repeatedly calling for the ATP schedule to be reformed so there is less strain on the players.
