Taylor Fritz on players faking injuries: ‘Sometimes it is serious, sometimes players exaggerate injuries’

Taylor Fritz has had his say on the current debate about players faking injuries, but his comments does contain a footnote as he insisted “I’m not taking shots at any players so please don’t get defensive”.

One of the biggest talking points at the 2023 Australian Open has been about Novak Djokovic’s hamstring with some suggesting he is faking the injury and others insisting he has a problem.

The 21-time Grand Slam winner picked up the injury during his title run at the Adelaide International 1 and he has played with a heavily-strapped leg at Melbourne Park so far.

He revealed earlier in the tournamenthe came close to withdrawing, but the injury has started to ease up as he admitted on the back of his win over Alex de Minaur in the fourth round that the hamstring seemed fine.

Social media, though, has been abuzz about the extent of his injury with players, former players commentators and fans commenting on it.

Eighth seed Fritz, who lost in the second round in Melbourne, gave an honest assessment about injuries, but insisted he was “not talking about anyone in particular.”

“My opinion that probably nobody cares about… 80% of players are always dealing with something (severity levels differ) but everyone is honesty always a little banged up… the media is only ever focusing on the top guys so there issues get more attention,” he wrote on Twitter.

“Also some players are more vocal talking about injuries than others. I don’t think people fake injuries, I do think sometimes players stretch the severity of the injury because it depressurizes them and helps them play better (which honestly is fine, do whatever works).”

Also some players are more vocal talking about injuries then others. I don’t think people fake injuries, I do think sometimes players stretch the severity of the injury because it depressurizes them and helps them play better (which honestly is fine, do whatever works)

— Taylor Fritz (@Taylor_Fritz97) January 23, 2023

He continued: “I don’t think it’s done in a bad sportsmanship kind of way, and before people get defensive, I’m not talking about anyone in particular this is just what I see as a player, sometimes there are serious injuries, sometimes there [sic] over exaggerated ones from people 1-500.

“I’m not taking shots at any players so please don’t get defensive.”

Djokovic fired back at those who questioned the severity of injury following the De Minaur match.

“I leave the doubting to those people – let them doubt,” he said.

“Only my injuries are questioned. When some other players are injured, then they are the victims, but when it is me, I am faking it. It is very interesting. I don’t feel that I need to prove anything to anyone.”

READ MORE: Angry Novak Djokovic hits back at claims he is faking Australian Open injury