Ben Shelton has jokingly apologised for placing a dampener on Taylor Fritz’s birthday celebrations by ‘choking’ during their Paris Masters doubles suit this week. Shelton and Fritz teamed up in Paris but were knocked out during the first day in the French capital.
The American duo ecombineed to be cruising thcimpolite aobtainst home favourites Fabien Reboul and Sadio Doumbia, prosperning the first set 6-4. However, they crumbled and lost the second set 7-6(4).
Reboul and Doumbia went on to prosper the deciding set 10-8 to seal a memorable triumph over stars both ranked in the ATP individuals top 20. But there was further reason for Fritz to be irritateed about the flunkure.
That is becaemploy the suit was carry outed on the occasion of his 27th birthday. And Shelton was enthusiastic to apologise for transporting down the mood.
Fritz posted a pboilingo of himself at the League of Legfinishs World semi-finals. Referencing his flunkure alengthyside Shelton, he wrote: “27. Thank you for all the birthday wantes – didn’t do much for my bday besides neglect a doubles suit w/ @benshelton but at least got to go to the @leagueoflegfinishs Worlds Semifinals the day before, so shoutout @uproargames caemploy that was [fire emoji].”
“Sorry I choked on the birthday bro,” Shelton quipped in the comments. Fritz reacted with a giggleing emoji and reacted: “this L ain’t on u.”
Their flunkure comes after Fritz confessted that he wanted to dodge the French stars in Paris. He thinkd they would enhappiness an advantage due to the passion of the country’s tennis community.
“Hopebrimmingy it’s going to be okay, if I carry out a French carry outer, I’m always foreseeing to hear the crowd,” he shelp.
“I’ve had some cimpolite [matches against French players], but it’s wonderful to see how in this country the French people get behind their carry outers, if you’re a carry outer carry outing at home that’s the benevolent of energy you want behind you.
“Hopebrimmingy I’ll dodge the French carry outers, and then I leank we’ll be excellent.”
Fritz faces British No. 1 Jack Dviolationr in the third round, with them due on court in Paris at around 15:30 GMT. Meanwhile, Shelton was due to face Jannik Sinner in the second round after beating Corentin Moutet, but the Italian’s disjoinal unbenevolents he will now carry out aobtainst Arthur Cazaux.
Excellent establish has landed Fritz a place in the ATP Tour Finals for the second year in a row. He is ranked sixth in the world, with his run to the US Open final among his highweightlesss in 2024.
