America’s Taylor Fritz has been making waves on the ATP tour this season with impressive performances, but it wasn’t just his tennis game that caught everyone’s attention recently. The world number six attempted a bold new look that didn’t quite go as planned, leaving fans and his social media followers with more questions than answers. It’s safe to say that Fritz might need a few styling tips from his influencer girlfriend, Morgan Riddle, after his attempt at a hair transformation went from a bold statement to a quick change of heart.
The whole saga began when Taylor Fritz revealed a new, much lighter look ahead of the 2024 Rolex Paris Masters. In an effort to surprise his followers, Fritz showed up with his hair freshly dyed blonde — a dramatic shift from his usual dark locks. The ATP star hoped to make a splash with this unexpected makeover, but the result was not quite what he had envisioned. While Fritz was on the court facing Britain’s Jack Draper in the second round of the Paris Masters, his new look made waves both on social media and in the tennis world. The media and fans couldn’t help but notice, and Fritz’s blonde hair became the talk of the tournament. Unfortunately, it wasn’t just his tennis that grabbed attention—his hair color took center stage.
Despite the initial boldness of his decision, things didn’t go exactly as Fritz had hoped. After a tough loss to Draper — 6-7(6), 6-4, 4-6 — Fritz returned to his hotel in Paris and took to Instagram to share a laid-back selfie with a caption that made it clear: his experiment with blonde hair was short-lived. The picture showed Fritz in a white t-shirt, sporting his natural dark hair once again. “WE’RE SO BACK,” he wrote, hinting that not only was he back from Paris, but his signature look was too. It seems that after the reactions to his platinum blonde phase, Fritz had made up his mind to return to his classic style.
So, why the sudden change? When asked about his reasoning behind the blonde hair decision, Fritz didn’t take it too seriously. “A lot of people asking me why? … No reason other than I just thought it would be funny. After seeing all the reactions and overreactions, I was right, it’s hilarious,” Fritz admitted on his Instagram. For the tennis star, it was all part of the fun, though it seems he didn’t quite anticipate the storm of attention his new look would bring.
Fritz also addressed the thought process behind his decision to bleach his hair when he was asked how long it took him to consider the idea. “Oh, years. I feel like I have polled it every year at the Australian Open,” he joked, referring to the multiple times in the past that he had asked his fans whether he should dye his hair blonde. He even mentioned that he thought the blonde look would be a one-time experiment, adding, “I thought it was funny. I expected to just buzz it if I hated it, but I don’t hate it.” Ultimately, Fritz didn’t hate the look, but it seems he wasn’t quite ready to embrace it fully, and he quickly returned to his natural hair color.
Yet, the fun didn’t stop there. When asked if blondes have more fun, Fritz gave a playful response, saying, “You know, we haven’t… we’re gonna have to wait and see, but hopefully.” This hinted that, while he wasn’t totally sold on the blonde look, he wasn’t completely ruling it out either. But fans and followers didn’t have to wait long for a conclusion: Fritz ultimately decided to ditch the blonde look, once again sporting his familiar dark hair.
However, Fritz’s decision didn’t come without some surprises for those closest to him, including his girlfriend, Morgan Riddle. Known for her social media presence as an influencer, Riddle made it clear that she had no idea about Fritz’s hair transformation plans. Taking to her Instagram profile, Riddle shared a screenshot of her conversation with Fritz after he revealed his blonde hair. “I didn’t think you actually would. I thought you were just getting a haircut. Oh my God,” she texted him, clearly caught off guard by his decision. To add more humor to the situation, Riddle wrote, “Would just like everyone to know I was also blindsided by this.”
Riddle wasn’t alone in her reaction. She also shared how she had received DMs from her followers comparing Fritz’s new look to that of DJ Diplo. “When I open my phone to DMs that my bf looks like Diplo now,” Riddle said, adding even more fun to the story.
While Fritz’s brief foray into blonde hair may not have lasted long, it undoubtedly brought some humor and lightheartedness to the ATP tour. His willingness to experiment with his look highlighted a side of tennis that often goes unnoticed — the fun and glamour that can coexist with the sport. It’s not just about the matches and the trophies, but also about the personalities that make the sport more relatable to fans.
In the end, Fritz’s blonde experiment may have been short-lived, but it was a reminder that even top athletes like him have their playful moments. Whether or not he decides to go blonde again in the future, one thing is for certain: the tennis world loves a good story, especially one with a hint of humor and a little bit of glam.
What do you think? Do you prefer Fritz’s natural look or were you a fan of his brief blonde phase? Let us know in the comments below!