Taylor Fritz beats Alexander Zverev at U.S. Open for first Grand Slam semifinal

NEW YORK — Taylor Fritz is into his first Grand Slam semifinal after a four-set win over Alexander Zverev on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Fritz, the No. 12 seed, won two tiebreaks to beat the German No. 4 seed 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(3) in just under three and a half hours. There were just five points between 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 quarterfinal, Fritz said that the match would be decided by who served better, and he was the more efficient player in that regard. Although he landed fewer first serves than Zverev, he won more points behind those serves, and also edged ahead of the German in terms of second-serve points won.

“I’ve had a lot of looks at quarterfinals, and today just felt different,” Fritz said on court.

“It’s only fitting I’m doing it here on this court at the Open, in front of the crowd.”

In one sequence during the final set, Zverev and Fritz together sent down four first serves that landed at 125mph; 134mph; 127mph; and 134mph. Zverev was particularly impressive behind his serve when under pressure, which hasn’t always been a strength during his career. He saved a total of 11 break points out of 13, with Fritz only facing four.

Zverev, who was hoping to reach his second U.S. Open final, earned the first break of the entire contest in the second set, going up 5-3 and serving out in the next game.

The third set saw three breaks of serve, with Zverev coming back to 4-4 from 3-1 down. But Fritz emulated what Zverev did in the second set by breaking at the perfect time, giving himself a 5-4 advantage and closing out the set to take a 2-1 lead.

Fritz was half-right when he said that serving would decide the match. In the tiebreaks, the key points that he won came from being brave in tight moments, putting a little extra speed or spin on his forehand to draw an error from the Zverev backhand and create an easy put-away shot. By contrast, Zverev, who has in the past faltered behind his serve at key moments, particularly in that 2020 U.S. Open final, made more errors from the ground, primarily forced by Fritz.

Zverev clearly knew it, and he ripped into himself in his press conference. “I did nothing to deserve to win the match today,” he said.

He had even harsher words for his own backhand.

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

“I have no words for it, if I’m honest.”

Fritz will play either Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov or compatriot Frances Tiafoe in the semifinal, which promises to be a blockbuster match on Arthur Ashe. Fritz is bidding to become the first American man to win the U.S. Open since Andy Roddick, who lifted the trophy in 2003.

‘Fritz may feel liberated in the semifinal’

Analysis from Charlie Eccleshare

Having lost all four of his previous major quarterfinals, there was plenty of pressure on Taylor Fritz going into this match — especially at his home Grand Slam tournament.

In three of those four, Fritz was playing an all-time great. Rafael Nadal knocked him out of Wimbledon two years ago, and then Novak Djokovic did for him twice, most recently at the Australian Open in January.

He was the favourite against Lorenzo Musetti at Wimbledon in July, but appeared inhibited by the expectation that a last-four place was on his racket. Musetti chipped away at his first serve, taking away his main route to easy points, and Fritz crumbled.

Going into the match with Zverev, Fritz played down expectations, both about his chances of making a deep run, and the feelings attached to playing in front of a home crowd in New York. He refused to indulge in the temptation of looking ahead to the rest of the tournament, even when Alcaraz and Djokovic exited the field on consecutive nights.

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Fritz looked ahead too far ahead of the 2022 tournament, saying that he believed he could win it. He promptly lost in the first round to the qualifier Brandon Holt.

Tuesday, it was advantageous that Fritz’s opponent was not someone he feared. The American spoke openly before Wimbledon about how Djokovic not being in the draw would have been a big benefit to him, before Djokovic managed to recover from knee surgery to make the final. Some players, you just don’t match up well against, and the 24-time major champion is one of those for Fritz.

Zverev, on the other hand, is not one of those players. This victory makes it an even five wins apiece from their 10 meetings, including their previous match at Wimbledon two months ago.

Fritz showed in that match that he has the ability to outlast the durable German, and he did it here again. In the closing stages, it was Zverev who was fading 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 tight matches before. Against Fritz, it was his backhand that faltered. (Jamie Squire / Getty Images)

“I don’t remember hitting my backhand this badly. I just don’t,” Zverev said.

“I was missing shots which were in the middle of the court with no pace, in the bottom of the net.”

Fritz, by contrast, spoke about how he has worked hard to add more variety to his game, citing improved volleys and drop shots.

Having advanced beyond the quarters of a Slam for the first time, Fritz may feel liberated in the semis — which would certainly be a help, given the potentially suffocating pressure of trying to become America’s first male major winner for 21 years.

Either way and whoever his opponent is, Friday’s match will be the hottest ticket in town.

(Top photo: Al Bello / Getty Images)