When most players talk about Jannik Sinner, they call him the most “complete player” there is. That’s clear when you look at his record! Starting with his maiden Sofia Open title in 2020, Sinner steadily racked up 19 ATP singles titles, including two Australian Opens and one US Open. His 2024 season was one to watch- he clinched eight titles, won the ATP Finals, and finished as World No. 1. With a 275-81 win-loss record, the Italian has proven his prowess. Despite a doping controversy and a three-month ban, he bounced back with a stellar performance that left Casper Ruud defeated, while Taylor Fritz could only joke and leave fans in stitches!

Having already won a major earlier this season, Sinner kicked off his home tournament by beating Argentina’s Mariano Navone 6-3, 6-4. He didn’t drop a set until the semifinals against America’s Tommy Paul. But before that, he showed true dominance over Ruud, crushing the Norwegian 6-0, 6-1 in just 64 minutes!

Despite the brutal loss, Ruud took to Instagram with class. He wrote, “Arrivederci, Roma👋 Not the result I wanted, but the love from the crowd made it worth it. Congrats to @janniksin and his team👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻.” A classy exit, no doubt! But Fritz couldn’t resist a playful jab at Ruud’s loss. He sarcastically commented, “You almost had him.”

This light banter isn’t new between the players. Despite their intriguing rivalry, they’re good friends who often train together. And this wasn’t the first time Fritz poked fun at Ruud publicly. Back in 2022, when Ruud won the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award voted by ATP players, Taylor Fritz quipped, “Definitely deserved @casperruud guy gives points away for free.” Just a glimpse of their playful friendship!

However, the comment from the American No. 1 didn’t go unnoticed-fans couldn’t help but laugh along with him while also playfully trolling him!

Fans react to Taylor’s witty comment on Ruud’s post

Under Taylor’s tweet, one fan wrote, “@taylor_fritz Nah that’s crazy 😭,” highlighting the sarcastic tone of his comment. Fritz is known for being laid back. He wins titles and stands at World No. 4 but prefers a casual off-court life, often gaming and engaging with fans. Humor isn’t his trademark, but he’s had his moments with witty remarks like this.

Another fan reminded Taylor of his own tough encounter with Jannik Sinner at the 2024 US Open final. They wrote, “@taylor_fritz we all remember what happened on that Court in Us,” referring to Taylor’s first Grand Slam final against Sinner, who took the title in straight sets (6-3, 6-4, 7-5). Sinner dominated baseline exchanges, leaving Fritz struggling. Before the final, Taylor won 49.8% of his baseline points, but that dropped to just 34% against Sinner’s relentless pressure. So, his comment likely reflects the harsh experience of facing such a ruthless opponent.

Meanwhile, another fan was so impressed by Taylor’s wit they considered becoming a fan, writing, “@taylor_fritz @davidjan.m best comment from 2025 here I might become fritz fan.” Tennis players usually stick to tournament updates or fan messages on social media. But Taylor, with nearly 800k Instagram followers, is more interactive. Another fan attributed his humor to his zodiac sign, saying, “@taylor_fritz ahahahhaahaha 😭😭😭😭 it’s that Scorpio humor 🤌.” Born October 28, Fritz’s Scorpio sign is supposedly linked to dark, sarcastic humor and an intense nature.

On the other hand, not all fans took the comment well. One wrote, “@taylor_fritz not like u can do any better????” criticizing Taylor’s performance in Rome and against Sinner. Despite being the fourth seed, Fritz lost early in Rome to Marcos Giron in straight sets. Meanwhile, Ruud reached the quarterfinals. Taylor holds a 4-1 head-to-head lead over Jannik, but his only win was their first meeting in 2021 at Indian Wells.

Adding to Taylor’s remark, a fan noted, “@taylor_fritz just 11 game away 😭😭,” referencing Ruud’s heavy loss to Sinner (0-6, 1-6). They tried to console the Norwegian or suggest Taylor’s phrasing that Ruud “almost” had him.

With the Italian Open over, Jannik finished runner-up to Carlos Alcaraz. Casper Ruud and Sinner now look ahead to the French Open starting May 25. Fritz is currently competing at the Geneva Open, set to face Quentin Halys on May 21. But when the Grand Slam arrives, will we see these three clash again? Share your thoughts in the comments below!