Wimbledon, England – Sweat and with a deserted expression, a destruction Taylor fritz In 2022, he left court at All England Club.
This was the first major quarterfinal appearance of his career. He had come so close to harass more than the main champion of 22 times. Rafael Nadal The center was closed to the court-and in a fourth set of about the court-but with the eyes of the world of tennis and at their highest level, Fritz fell into the fifth set tiebreaker. Nadal, who had struggled throughout the match with a abdominal injury, later overtook his semi -final match, and Fritz wondered what could happen.
Fritz had a chance to fix the loss after two years when he again reached the quarter -finals in Wimbledon. play Lorenzo musetti This time, it was Fritz who was a favorite and was ready to reach its first Slam semi -finals. He took the first set before leaving the next two. He was resurgence to force a judge in the fourth set. But, yet, it was not to happen. He lost in the fifth set.
But on Tuesday, Fritz refused to repeat history. The American & Number 5 Seed-who won two grass titles and recorded a US Open final appearance since that disappointing day in July-used its previous experiences and pain, so that he could fuel him to win 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6, 7-6 (4). Karen Khachanov,
In a brief moment, whatever he was doing seemed worth it because he moved forward in his first semi -finals in Wimbledon. Usually 27 -year -old Stoic Fritz roared the crowd after the match point, and later did not stop smiling during his postmatch interview on court moments.
Fritz clearly told them in the No. 1 Court, “It was clearly played twice in the quarter -finals and lost five, twice, I don’t think I could take one and one.” “So I am happy. I’m really happy that I am going to play Semi here.”
Fritz will now have a chance to reach their first final at All England Club – and be the first American person to do so Andy rhodik In 2009-he takes a two-time defending champion Carlos Alakraj On Friday.
He believes that all their previous matches of Wimbledon, US Open and heartbreak in the middle have improved their sports and chances of going further.
“I have reached the point where [reaching the quarterfinals] Just don’t think it is such a big thing, “Fritz said at his news conference on Tuesday afternoon.” When you have that feeling, it allows you to play your best tennis only in the position and moment.
“I also really think that I am a much better tennis player than a year ago or two years ago. I think I am playing at a very high level in tennis right now.”
Wimbledon has always placed a special place in Fritz’s heart.
Before he once played a match on the grass, he knew that he would do well on the surface and was sure that it was suited to his sports style. And, as he discovered soon, he was right. In 2014, he was successful as a junior player in Wimbledon, at the age of 16, when he reached the semi -finals of his first prominent boy and re -did the following year.
He did not have the same immediate results as a professional in the main draw, which failed to move forward in the second round during his four appearances. But he won the first ATP title of his career on Grass in Eastborn in 2019 and knew what he was able to do.
Set to play in 2021Despite being removed from surgery for a torn meniscus, Fritz was destroyed when he lost in the third round Alexander zweev And his ranking collapsed outside the top 40.
After the loss, his girlfriend Morgan Riddle encouraged him to write his feelings in the bus while leaving the site. He gave a note on his phone shortly after.
In a note puzzle shared on social media in 2023, he said, “No one in the whole world is more difficult than you.”
When asked about the letter in the court on Tuesday, Fritz said that it should never be “public” but “really happy” was how he had changed his career in the last four years. He said, “I have done a lot of work and it is very good to see the results,” he said.
In the next season, after its ranting letter for your own, a banner will prove to be the year. He arrived in the fourth round at the 2022 Australian Open, the biggest title of his career before defeating Nadal in the final in Indian Wales. Then there was another title in Eastborne and quarter -final run in Wimbledon. His ranking increased and started his top -10 in October.
Since then, Fritz has been a mainstay in the top 10 and has won six more titles. In September, he became the first American man to reach a slam final at the US Open since 2009. He lost Pronounced sinner3-6, 4-6, 5-7, but proved to be its position among the best of the game with his winning run. By the end of the season, he reached the championship match at the ATP final (losing to sinner again) at the end of the season and reached the number 4 career-high ranking of the number 4.
It has been believed for a long time to have the best expectations to eliminate the drought of 22-year for major titles among American men, Fritz has been a casual leader and deal with investigations and questions that come up with mental.
“I think Fritz was the man for all American tennis in the last eight years,” his friend and current world number 13 Tommy Paul Told ESPN Before this spring. “He is fully moved forward. Every generation needs that man, and I think it’s great.”
But he hardly looked like a “man” during a challenging start for his season, in which he lost in the third round at the Australian Open and was upset with his opener at the French Open. Fritz discovered a way to turn things around the grass, which he called his best surface this week. He registered his fifth direct win over Zeverav-a person who partially waged his letter in 2021 to claim the title in Stuttgart last month, and then he earned his record-fourth trophy in Eastborne, two days before the main draw started in Wimbledon.
His pace in the All England Club is not yet slow. In his first two matches, against a pair of large servers, set, and a combined four tiebrex. Giyavani mapeti perikard And Gabriel DialoAnd through the first two rounds, his 109 total was the third highest in sports history. Fritz has seen more under control, four sets are required against number 26 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina Took a 6-1, 3-0 lead in the third round Jordan Thompson Before retiring with Australian injury.
On Tuesday, Fritz dominated the first two sets against Khachanov, before the tape stuck in his right leg and began to interrupt his movement. He fell into losses 5–0, and suddenly looked listless. His confidence appeared as soon as he shrunk his shoulders towards his player box. Calling it “uncomfortable”, he took a medical timeout after the third set, received treatment, received treatment and a fresh tapping on his leg. While the level of Khachanov was high in the fourth set, Fritz was powered by his strong service – he had four aces in the tiebreak alone – and he was firm to not find himself in a decisive set.
Fritz later said, “I am really happy how I returned to the fourth set and then completed it.” “I think Momentum was definitely going to the fifth.”
Fritz is now the first American man John Isner Wimbledon is just third to reach the semi -finals in 2018 and to do so since the final presence of Rodik 16 years ago.
Fritz worked to take Alkaraz on Friday. His memorable win at the French Open, and his latest title on grass at Queen Club last month, Alkaraz rolled a major 6–2, 6-3, 6-3 to the semi-finals. Cameron Nori On Tuesday. Alkaraj has recorded a head from the head 2–0 on Fritz, but he has never met on the grass, and Alakraj has shown moments of vulnerability throughout the tournament.
While Alakraj would undoubtedly be in favor of entering the match, Fritz believes that he may beat him.
“I think the grass is much more equalist,” Fritz told reporters on Tuesday. “It can be a synonym. So trust how I am playing. I really know that I have played the first two sets today, on the other hand there is no opponent.”
Entering the match on Tuesday, Fritz had the fourth best possibility of winning the Wimbledon title according to ESPN Bet. Alkaraj as his semi -final rival, and number 1 with a sinner and seven -time champion Novak jokovich Staying on the other side of the draw and playing their respective quarterfinal matches on Wednesday will not change the possibility of those obstacles. But he is still just two matches away from the biggest title of his life.
Fritz is aware of what is on the line and the history that it can make. But he went there earlier too. After his quarterfinal match, he said that he did not feel that he would ever experience anything filled with pressure against his friend and fellow American than his semi -final match. Francis tiafo During last year’s US Open.
But after that win, and after being played in the final in New York a few 10 months ago, he has been given self-confidence.
And now he knows that he can do it.
“It has been given a lot of confidence in those moments and situations, just there, that I can do it again.”
