CNN
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Taylor Fritz advanced to the quarterfinals of Wimbledon on Monday with a thrilling comeback win from a two-set deficit – 4:6, 6:7(4), 6:4, 7:6(3), 6:3 – against Alex Zverev.
After two sets, Zverev, number 4 in the world, had the match firmly under control. The 27-year-old stormed to a two-set lead and seemed pumped up against a discouraged Fritz.
But a 6-4 win in the third set brought the American back to life and he never looked back.
The 26-year-old carried the momentum into the rest of the match and won the next two sets to claim the thrilling five-set victory.
The match lasted three hours and 29 minutes before Fritz secured his place in the quarterfinals with a backhand winner.
“Yes, of course I’m really happy,” Fritz told reporters after the game. “I think it’s the second time in the quarterfinals, but doing it like this, I think it feels even better than the last time.”
Despite the defeat, Zverev said he was proud that he fought until the last point.
“I could be doing better, but all in all I’m proud that we fought until the end,” a dejected Zverev told reporters afterwards. “Of course, it wasn’t an easy defeat.”
Zverev also added that he had been sitting “on one leg” throughout the match due to an injury.
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Fritz has reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon for the second time in his career.
Following the match, there was a long exchange of blows between Zverev and Fritz at the net, during which the German made his opinion clear about some members of Fritz’s box.
“His team is extremely respectful. I think his coach, his physiotherapist and also his second coach are extremely respectful.
“But I think there are maybe a few other people in the box who are not from the tennis world, who maybe don’t follow every single game, and they were a bit exaggerated,” Zverev said in the exchange.
The 2024 French Open finalist went on to say that it was “no drama” and that he thought Fritz was a “great guy.”
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Following the five-set thriller, Fritz and Zverev engaged in a long exchange of blows at the net.
The American stressed that there were no real problems between the two at the net.
“It’s no big deal at the net,” added Fritz, confirming that Zverev was annoyed by the noise level of some people in his box.
“I don’t really listen to my speakers when I play like this, so I didn’t hear anyone being extremely loud. He’s entitled to be annoyed if they were annoying,” Fritz added.
After his four-set victory against Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, Fritz will now face Italian Lorenzo Musetti in the quarterfinals.
