Taylor Fritz beats Alexander Zverev at the US Open and reaches his first Grand Slam semifinal

NEW YORK – Taylor Fritz is in his first Grand Slam semifinal after a four-set victory over Alexander Zverev at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Fritz, the number 12 seed, won two tiebreaks to defeat the German number 4 in just under three and a half hours 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(3). Only five points separated the two players, with Fritz winning the baseline points (70-57) and Zverev having the advantage at the net (29-16).

Looking ahead to the quarterfinals, Fritz said that the match was decided by the better serve and that he was the more efficient player in that regard. Although he landed fewer first serves than Zverev, he won more points with those serves and was also ahead of the German in points won with the second serve.

“I’ve watched a lot of quarterfinals, but today it just felt different,” said Fritz on the court.

“It’s only fitting that I do it here on this course at the Open, in front of the crowd.”

In one sequence in the final set, Zverev and Fritz combined to hit four first serves of 125 mph, 134 mph, 127 mph and 134 mph. Zverev was particularly impressive behind his serve when under pressure, which has not always been a strength in his career. He fended off 11 of 13 break points in total, while Fritz fended off just four.

Zverev, who had hoped to reach his second US Open final, made the first break of the entire match in the second set, took a 5-3 lead and served through in the next game.

In the third set, Zverev broke serve three times and was able to reduce a 1-3 deficit to 4-4. However, Fritz imitated Zverev’s second game and broke at the perfect time, giving him a 5-4 lead and closing the set with a 2-1 lead.

Taylor Fritz survived another close match against Alexander Zverev. (Jamie Squire / Getty Images)

Fritz was half right when he said that serving would decide the match. In the tiebreaks, he won the decisive points because he was brave in tight moments, giving his forehand a little more pace or spin to trick Zverev’s backhand into making a mistake and scoring an easy shot. In contrast, Zverev, who has faltered behind his serve in the past in crucial moments, especially in the 2020 US Open final, made more errors from the ground, mostly forced by Fritz.

Zverev was obviously aware of this and blamed himself in his press conference. “I did nothing today to deserve the win,” he said.

He found even harsher words for his own backhand.

“Terrible, terrible of me. My best shot, my most reliable shot, the shot I wouldn’t miss if you woke me up at 3 a.m., was absolutely not there today.

“I’m at a loss for words, to be honest.”

Fritz will face either Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov or fellow countryman Frances Tiafoe in the semifinals, in what promises to be an exciting match on Arthur Ashe. Fritz is aiming to become the first American to win the US Open since Andy Roddick, who lifted the trophy in 2003.

“Fritz could feel liberated in the semifinals”

Analysis by Charlie Eccleshare

Having lost all four quarterfinals of his previous major tournaments, Taylor Fritz was under a lot of pressure ahead of this match – especially in his home Grand Slam tournament.

In three of those four matches, Fritz played against one of the all-time greats. Rafael Nadal knocked him out at Wimbledon two years ago, and then Novak Djokovic finished him off twice, most recently at the Australian Open in January.

He was the favourite against Lorenzo Musetti at Wimbledon in July, but seemed hampered by the expectation that a place in the last four was on his racket. Musetti dropped his first serve, taking away his main route to easy points, and Fritz collapsed.

Before the match against Zverev, Fritz played down his expectations, both about his chances of a long run and the emotions that came with playing in front of his home crowd in New York, resisting the temptation to look ahead to the rest of the tournament, even as Alcaraz and Djokovic left the field on two consecutive nights.

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Fritz looked too far ahead to the 2022 tournament and said he believed he could win it, but promptly lost in the first round to qualifier Brandon Holt.

On Tuesday, it was an advantage that Fritz’s opponent was not someone he feared. The American spoke openly before Wimbledon about how it would have been a huge advantage for him if Djokovic had not been in the draw, before Djokovic recovered from knee surgery to reach the final. There are some players you just aren’t good enough against, and the 24-time major winner is one of them for Fritz.

Zverev, on the other hand, is not one of those players. With this win, both players have achieved exactly five wins in their ten meetings, including their last match at Wimbledon two months ago.

Fritz showed in that match that he is capable of outlasting the robust German and he did so again here. In the closing stages, it was Zverev who faltered in the late afternoon heat as his backhand, normally the best part of his game alongside his serve, completely deserted him.

Alexander Zverev’s serve has caused him problems in close matches before. Against Fritz, it was his backhand that faltered. (Jamie Squire / Getty Images)

“I can’t remember ever hitting my backhand so badly. I just can’t do it,” said Zverev.

“I missed shots that went down the middle of the court without any speed and ended up in the bottom of the net.”

Fritz, on the other hand, talked about how hard he had worked to bring more variety into his game, pointing to improved volleys and drop shots.

Having made it past the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time, Fritz could feel liberated in the semifinals – which would certainly help him, given the crushing pressure he faces as he tries to become the first American winner of a men’s major in 21 years.

Either way, and whoever their opponent is, Friday’s game will be the most coveted game in town.

(Top photo: Al Bello / Getty Images)