HOTSHOT: Taylor Fritz two-handed forehand return against Arthur Rinderknech in Dallas 

Leading the ATP 500 draw is Dalla this week is the highest-ranked American, Taylor Fritz, whose first round match against Arthur Rinderknech was a 66-minute non-event that added another win to the American's ledger against the Frenchman.

The two do have an interesting history behind that 3-0 head-to-head, though, as their Grand Slam matches at Roland Garros in 2023, and Wimbledon last year, Fritz shushing crowds and wishing Rinderknech a "nice flight home.".

But in their first match of 2025, Fritz had a new flair for the dramatic pulled out a new groundstroke mid-match: the two-handed forehand.

Advertising

This is not the infamous two-handed forehand return.

This is not the infamous two-handed forehand return. 

After taking the first set 6-4 with the first break of serve of the match, Fritz held serve quickly to start the second set. As Rinderknech was doing the same with a 40-0 lead in the second game, a second serve to the body forced Fritz to hit a two-handed forehand.

"I get jammed sometimes in between switching grips," Fritz said in his post-match interview with Tennis Channel's Brett Haber. "Funny thing about it is I almost never miss it; I make it all the time."

"We thought for a minute we were looking at Fabrice Santoro," Haber said.

Advertising

Fritz is one of seven Americans through to the second round in Dallas, including No. 3 seed Tommy Paul and qualifier Ethan Quinn who each had to knock out countrymen just to face each other on Thursday night.

Across the way, the ATP 500 in Rotterdam is also seeing players at their absolute best, with Carlos Alcaraz hitting a behind-the-back shot to set up a backhand winner, and Stefanos Tsitsipas edging a three-hour, three-set battle against Tallon Griekspoor.

Watch all of the ATP action all week long on Tennis Channel, as well as WTA 500 Abu Dhabi and WTA 250 Cluj Napoca.