Remember how Taylor Fritz pumped up his confidence and wrote, “I’m back,” after clinching a maiden ATP title of the season in Stuttgart two months ago? Following his first-round French Open exit, the World No. 4 American star tried to make a point while indicating his return to form, only to see it fade away in the first round in the next campaign at the Queen’s Club against a lower-ranked Frenchman, Corentin Moutet (who was No.83 at the time). This unexpected setback prompted former ATP pro and compatriot Sam Querrey to take a jab at him. “Taylor, you can’t win the 250 and write, ‘I’m back,’ and then follow it up with a loss to Moutet. Like, that’s bad.” But guess what? This time, it’s the fans who are calling him out following a huge debacle.

Interestingly, Taylor Fritz faced another lower-ranked French player this week at the Cincinnati Open. The American was up against 136-ranked qualifier Terence Atmane. The latter was coming off a sensational win over 18-year-old prodigy and emerging talent Joao Fonseca. After Fritz snatched the first set, it seemed he would easily enter the QF stage in straight sets. Atmane, however, had other plans.

The World No. 136 pulled off a remarkable comeback in the second set before besting the 2025 Wimbledon semi-finalist in the decider. With a final score line of 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, Atmane registered one of the biggest wins of his career. “I couldn’t believe it to be honest. I saw I was hitting the volley with the frame. I was like, ‘No!’ I was about to go back to 40/30 and I had to serve again. I was shaking,” said the Frenchman on his match-point conversion.

But what about Fritz? Well, things seem to have turned worse for the 27-year-old. Ever since the news of his loss against a 136-ranked qualifier went viral, tennis fans have been buzzing online.

Precisely speaking, they are in shock while trying to digest how a top 5 ATP star like Fritz could lose control of the match against a lower-ranked individual. In the last few hours, social media has become active with people taking shots at the American’s on-court skills.

Taylor Fritz receives heavy backlash over shocking defeat in Cincinnati

One baffled fan wrote, “Taylor Fritz is legitimately throwing at this point, somebody check his betting account,” while another person tried to understand what just happened in the match. “Taylor Fritz lost to who?” they wrote, referring to Atmane. With the win over Fritz, he’s advanced to his maiden ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal.

Moreover, the Frenchman has also become the first-ever qualifier to make it to the R8 at an ATP 1000 event since 2022. Back then, America’s Max Purcell achieved the feat (in Cincinnati only). Also, Atmane happens to be the lowest-ranked Cincinnati quarterfinalist in three years. Last time, it was Croatia’s Borna Coric who actually went on to win the title in 2022; back then, he was ranked 152nd.

“What a week. What a week, I have to say,” Atmane reacted to his epic victory. “I’m so happy that finally my work is paying off. But as I said with my coach, this is just a tournament and I need to repeat this kind of level in every single week on a daily basis to be at their spot.”

Meanwhile, one fan expressed their frustration saying, “So if a Top 5 ranked player on the ATP Tour – Taylor Fritz – who’s currently playing the best tennis of his life can lose to a qualifier ranked 135 in the World (Atmane) at a Masters 1000 R16 on home soil … then no other athlete should get any grief…” On the other hand, there was an extremely angry tennis enthusiast who lashed out at the American pro, saying, “Taylor fritz what a clown, how are you losing to somebody ranked 132 places below you.”

Lastly, one person wondered if the World No. 4 assumed before the match that he would have it easy. Raising doubt on the ATP pro’s on-court dedication, they wrote, “Fritz didn’t show up to play. He thought it would be handed to him.” Cincinnati was the last main opportunity for him to gain much-needed momentum ahead of the US Open. It will be interesting to see how he pulls off a comeback when he enters the campaign in New York.

Last year, he was the runner-up and missed out on his maiden slam to World No. 1 Jannik Sinner. Do you think Fritz will be able to repeat his performance at the US Open in the 2025 edition? Let us know in the comments below.