Taylor Fritz Exacts Verbal Revenge on Arthur Rinderknech After Wimbledon Rematch

Following his victory at Wimbledon, American tennis star Taylor Fritz delivered a thinly veiled jab at his French opponent, whom he accused of pre-match disrespect and unsavory behavior.

Taylor Fritz, the American tennis prodigy and 13th seed at Wimbledon, has made headlines for his less-than-amicable exchange with French opponent Arthur Rinderknech after their second-round match on Thursday.

Fritz, who emerged victorious with a 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 score, admitted to telling Rinderknech to "have a nice flight home" during their post-match handshake. However, he clarified that this remark was not an unprovoked outburst but a response to a perceived slight from his opponent.

Taylor Fritz Exacts Verbal Revenge on Arthur Rinderknech After Wimbledon Rematch

"I'm a very chill person," Fritz explained. "I don't do anything that could rub people the wrong way, so when someone kind of just goes out of their way to take a shot at me, then I'm not just going to take it."

The comment in question, Fritz revealed, stemmed from a remark Rinderknech made ahead of their match. According to Tennis.com, Rinderknech had suggested that Fritz was prone to complaining and being overly sensitive to crowd noise during their previous encounter at the French Open in 2023.

Taylor Fritz Exacts Verbal Revenge on Arthur Rinderknech After Wimbledon Rematch

"The atmosphere will be quieter (than at Roland Garros) and he won't cry as much," Rinderknech had reportedly said. "He whined a bit, saying it was too noisy. I hold no grudge against him, but he was wrong if he thought the French crowd would send him kisses in between points."

Fritz, it seemed, took umbrage at this remark and was determined to prove Rinderknech wrong on the court.

Taylor Fritz Exacts Verbal Revenge on Arthur Rinderknech After Wimbledon Rematch

"It gave me the extra fire to win," he admitted. "When we shook hands, I just said, ‘Have a nice flight home.’"

Fritz's dig was not lost on Rinderknech, who appeared visibly upset by the American's words. However, the Frenchman declined to comment on the matter, saying that he preferred to focus on the positives of his Wimbledon experience.

The incident has added a layer of spice to the already intense rivalry between the two players. Fritz will now face Chilean Alejandro Tabilo in the third round on Saturday, while Rinderknech will continue his Wimbledon journey in the doubles competition.

Fritz's victory also marks a significant milestone in his career. It is his first time reaching the third round at Wimbledon, and he will be aiming to build on this momentum as he continues his pursuit of Grand Slam glory.