Taylor Fritz Makes It Two American Men In Wimbledon Quarters For ...

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 08: Taylor Fritz of United States celebrates against Alexander Zverev of ... [+] Germany in the Gentlemen's Singles fourth round match during day eight of The Championships Wimbledon 2024 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 08, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Who says American men can’t go deep in the majors?

No. 13 seed Taylor Fritz came back from two sets down to knock off No. 4 Alexander Zverev, 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 6-3 in 3 hours, 30 minutes, to reach his second Wimbledon quarterfinal. It was his third career comeback from two sets down.

“It was amazing to do that on Centre Court Wimbledon two sets down is just amazing,” said Fritz, who came into the tournament having won his third title on the grass at Eastbourne.

Fritz lost in the 2022 quarterfinals to Rafael Nadal, but will be the favorite this time around against No. 25 Lorenzo Musetti of Italy.

“I mean, it’s going to be a tough match,” Fritz said. “He’s had a really good grass court season, he’s been playing well. It’s the second time in the quarterfinals but this time feels like I earned it a lot more so I’m really excited for the chance.”

A second American, No. 12 Tommy Paul, faces No. 3 seed and defending Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. The last time at least two American men reached the quarters was 2000 (Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Jan-Michael Gambill).

“This is by far the biggest win of his career and it sets up an opportunity [where it's] the first time he’s playing in the quarterfinals where he’s a big favorite,” ESPN’s Brad Gilbert said of Fritz.

“To me, he’s a strong favorite to win this match.”

Fritz served 15 aces and was broken only once in the match. Zverev served 19 aces but told reporters he is dealing with bone edema that limited his movement.

“I know what it is because I took an X-ray yesterday,” he said. “I have bone edema in my knee and I also have a laceration of the knee capsule. They were caused by the fall in the match against Norrie.

“It is nothing that needs surgery, it will heal on its own. But now it's pretty painful. Even though I couldn't even walk yesterday and couldn't train, I felt much better today. That's why I tried to play, I didn't want to retire.”

Fritz earned a break for 3-1 in the fifth set when Zverev hit a forehand long to end a rally on Fritz’s second break point.

Fritz then overcome an 0-30 deficit on his own serve to hold for 4-1.

Fritz closed it out on his serve with a backhand winner into the open court and then met a disapppointed Zverev at net.

“I felt like I was playing really well for being down two sets,” he said. “I was thinking it would suck to be playing this well and just lose in the three straight so let’s take the third...

“I felt like I could take it one set at a time and just turn it around,” Fritz said of coming back from 0-2 down.

Last week, Fritz, a 26-year-old Californian, made news when he told Arthur Rinderknech, to “have a nice flight home” after beating him in a second-round match on Thursday.

The pair got into a bit of a back-and-forth at the net after the 13th-seeded American’s 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 victory over France’s Rinderknech at the All England Club. This was a rematch of a 2023 French Open contest that Fritz won in front of a rowdy partisan crowd, which he shushed afterward.

Rinderknech made a reference to that earlier matchup during the leadup to Thursday’s meeting, and Fritz heard about it. And was not pleased.

“I’m a very chill person. I don’t do anything that could rub people the wrong way, so when someone kind of just goes out of their way to take a shot at me, then I’m not just going to take it,” said Fritz, who is from California. “It gave me the extra fire to win.”

So when it was time for the postmatch handshake Thursday, there were some words exchanged.

“I just said, ‘Have a nice flight home,’” Fritz recounted.

While Rinderknech is out of the tournament, Fritz is playing into the second week and now has a chance to reach his first major semifinal.

(The AP contributed reporting)