Tennis star Taylor Fritz says playing video games helps keep his brain 'working well' on the court

Tennis star Taylor Fritz said playing "League of Legends" helps him decompress.

Mike Lawrence/USTA via Getty Images Tennis star Taylor Fritz said playing video games helps him perform better on the court.

He enjoys playing "League of Legends," and said the game helps him sharpen his focus.

He had also been playing the game in the lead-up to his 2023 Atlanta Open win, he said.

Taylor Fritz , 28, said playing " League of Legends " is as much a part of his tennis routine as sleep and recovery.

Speaking to GQ in an interview published on Wednesday, the tennis star said playing video games helps him decompress.

"When you're training and traveling, you don't always have the energy — nor even should you be going out and doing stuff.

You need that time to do something that's not as active," Fritz said.

Fritz said he had also seen studies suggesting that the video game he plays, "League of Legends," can improve focus.

Developed by Riot Games, the game pits two teams of five against each other, with the goal of destroying the enemy's base.

He added that he's experienced those effects himself.

"I've definitely noticed crossover: When I feel like my brain's working well when I'm playing the game, my brain's working well when I'm on the court," Fritz said.

In the lead-up to his 2023 Atlanta Open win, Fritz said he had been having a good week playing "League of Legends" too, and felt mentally sharp heading into the tournament.

"It's like playing chess with pieces that are almost moving without your control.