“I’m just an idiot”: Taylor Fritz dismisses Sam Querrey’s claim that his outfit blunder at US Open was a ‘strategic’ move
During the 2025 US Open quarterfinals, Taylor Fritz, the World No. 4 American, became the talk of the tournament not just for his 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 loss to Novak Djokovic on September 2, 2025, but for wearing his Hugo Boss headband upside down. On the *Nothing Major* podcast, former player Sam Querrey suggested the blunder was a “strategic” PR stunt, stating, “That had to be strategic. Everyone’s talking about the Hugo Boss headband. I’m convinced it wasn’t a mistake,” with co-hosts John Isner and Steve Johnson agreeing it could be calculated (*Sportskeeda*). Fritz quickly dismissed this on X, writing, “@samquerrey reading into it too much… I’m just an idiot,” humorously admitting his error was unintentional (*TennisWorldUSA*).
The incident, which went viral after Fritz posted, “Yo why’d nobody tell me that s— was backwards” on X (*People.com*), sparked amusement among fans and players like Nick Kyrgios, who replied, “Still rocked it” (*TimesofIndia*). Fritz’s $7 million-a-year Hugo Boss deal, signed in March 2024, inadvertently gained traction, with the brand capitalizing on the gaffe via a witty social media response: “#SSOB” (*TheMirror.com*). Fritz noted he only realized the mistake post-match, telling *Forbes*, “I didn’t notice until I saw the pictures,” and coincidentally played better after fixing it in the third set, winning 6-3 (*TheMirror.com*).
Querrey’s playful theory, while dismissed, reflects Fritz’s growing marketability. Despite the loss—his 11th straight to Djokovic—Fritz’s 2025 season has been strong, with a Wimbledon semifinal and two ATP titles (*Sportskeeda*). His coach, Michael Russell, called his performance “atrocious” (*TennisWorldUSA*), but Fritz remains focused, telling *ESPN*, “I had chances, but Novak’s just too good on big points.” As he prepares for 2026, Fritz’s lighthearted response to the headband saga, coupled with his on-court resilience, keeps him a fan favorite.
