Top seed Taylor Fritz received a warm and unusual show of support at the Dallas Open, where dozens of fans appeared in matching black BOSS headbands to celebrate his on-court style and growing popularity.
The coordinated display, organised with the support of BOSS, turned Fritz’s opening match against fellow American Marcos Giron into a memorable occasion. The world’s top-ranked American admitted he was surprised by the tribute, saying he could not look around without seeing someone dressed like him.
The fan movement traces its origins to a viral moment at the US Open last year, when Fritz accidentally wore his headband upside down during his quarterfinal match against Novak Djokovic. After the loss, he jokingly asked on social media why no one had pointed it out. The incident has since become a light-hearted part of his public image and helped strengthen his connection with supporters.
Making his first appearance since his fourth-round exit at the Australian Open, Fritz showed resilience in his opening match in Dallas. He defeated Giron 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (1) in nearly two and a half hours, hitting 21 aces in a demanding contest.
He followed that performance with a more controlled 6-3, 6-4 win over Brandon Nakashima, underlining his improving form as the tournament progressed.
There was a brief scare during the match against Giron when Fritz twisted his right knee and called for medical attention. With a history of tendinitis, concerns were raised about his fitness. However, he later told Tennis Channel that the issue was only a minor tweak and unrelated to his previous injury, adding that he felt fine after treatment.
With two wins secured and strong crowd backing, Fritz advanced to the quarterfinals, where he is set to face the winner of the match between Frances Tiafoe and Sebastian Korda.
As the tournament’s top seed, Fritz remains one of the leading title contenders. His combination of powerful play, resilience, and approachable personality has made him a central figure at this year’s Dallas Open, both on and off the court.
