Taylor Fritz Overcomes Zverev to Reach US Open Semis

Taylor Fritz ended his Grand Slam quarter-final jinx by defeating Alexander Zverev to advance to the US Open semi-finals. The 12th-seeded American, who had lost all four of his previous quarter-final matches overcame 2020 runner-up Zverev with a score of 7-6 (7-2), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3). Fritz celebrated passionately as Zverev missed the final shot raising his arms to the cheering crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

This victory marks a significant breakthrough for Fritz, who has reached the semi-finals for the first time in his career. He aims to become the first American men’s singles champion at Flushing Meadows since Andy Roddick’s win in 2003. Fritz expressed that this moment felt special and fitting on the Open’s grand stage. Fritz might face Frances Tiafoe in the semi-finals, depending on Tiafoe’s result against Grigor Dimitrov.

Their match is scheduled for Tuesday night. Fritz’s triumph stands out because it follows his previous near-misses in Grand Slam quarter-finals: he lost to Novak Djokovic at the US Open in 2023, fell in the Wimbledon quarter-finals in 2022 and July 2023 and faced defeat in the Australian Open quarters in January. The decisive moment in Fritz’s match occurred in the third set when Zverev missed a crucial backhand on break point.

This error came after Zverev had managed to recover from an early break. Fritz capitalized on Zverev’s errors and served strongly to secure his place in the semi-finals. Zverev, who felt frustrated and flat in the final set, admitted he played “terrible” and acknowledged Fritz’s superior performance. Looking ahead, Taylor Fritz eagerly anticipates the possibility of an all-American semi-final and prepares for whatever comes next.

Meanwhile, Britain’s Jack Draper will face Alex de Minaur in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.