LAST UPDATE | 8 Jul 2024
TAYLOR FRITZ MOUNTED a stirring comeback from two sets down to dump fourth seed Alexander Zverev out of Wimbledon on Monday, winning their fourth-round match 4-6, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 6-3.
Confronted with Zverev’s relentless serve, American 13th seed Fritz looked to be heading home but broke the German on the way to winning the third set.
It was the first time the former world number two had been broken in the entire tournament.
Fritz, who won the Eastbourne International on grass last month, edged the fourth set on a tie-break.
Flying Fritz 😮@Taylor_Fritz97 put it all on the line with this diving volley 👏#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/gxrckIdEPt
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 8, 2024
Hitting freely, the American broke again in the fourth game of the decider when Zverev, who looked like he had no answer to his opponent’s power, went long with a forehand.
Fritz powered through his service game to lead 5-2 and although Zverev clung on, Fritz sealed the match in style.
“It was amazing to do that on Centre Court, two sets down in front of this crowd. It’s a dream,” he said.
“The thing was I still felt I was playing really well for being down two sets. I was just thinking it sucked to be playing this well and to lose in straights.
“So let’s take the third, I took it one at a time. I had that belief. It was just a couple of points here and there.”
The American, who hit a total of 69 winners against 23 unforced errors, will face Italian 25th seed Lorenzo Musetti in the quarter-finals.
Fritz spread his arms wide and roared as he celebrated his epic fightback in a match lasting nearly three-and-a-half hours.
It is his second appearance in the Wimbledon quarter-finals after he lost a five-set thriller to Rafael Nadal in 2022.
Defeat for Zverev means the German, who reached the semi-finals at the 2024 Australian Open and was runner-up at Roland Garros last month, has still never reached the last eight at Wimbledon.
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic accused Wimbledon fans of “disrespect” in a withering on-court tirade after reaching a 60th Grand Slam quarter-final and 15th at the All England Club.
World number two Djokovic, the seven-time champion at Wimbledon and chasing a record-setting 25th major, defeated 15th-ranked Holger Rune 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.
Djokovic then launched a bitter outburst at a section of Centre Court fans who constantly chanted “Rune” throughout the match, echoing the shouts of “Root”, popularised by cricket fans in the country in support of former England cricket skipper Joe Root.
“To all the fans that have had respect and stayed here tonight, I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I appreciate it,” said an angry Djokovic.
“And to all those people that have chosen to disrespect the player — in this case me — have a goooooooood night,” he added, mocking his tormentors.
A 15th visit to the #Wimbledon quarter-finals, and a 60th Grand Slam quarter-final in total for Novak Djokovic 💪
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 8, 2024
The No.2 seed defeats Holger Rune 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 to book his place once again in the last eight 👏 pic.twitter.com/gvuPXIle9j
When told by the TV interviewer that some fans were shouting “Rune” rather than booing, Djokovic hit back.
“They were. They were. I am not accepting it. No no no. I know they were cheering for Rune but that’s an excuse to also boo,” he said.
“Listen, I have been on the tour for more than 20 years. I know all the tricks. I focus on the respectful people that pay for the ticket, and love tennis and appreciate the players.
“I have played in much more hostile environments, trust me -– you guys can’t touch me.”
The 37-year-old Serb, still sporting a knee support on his right leg after undergoing surgery last month, set the tone for Monday’s fourth-round tie when Rune failed to win a single point in the opening three games.
He saved a break point in the 10th game of the second set before carving out another key break in the first game of the third.
Djokovic goes on to face Australian ninth seed Alex de Minaur for a place in the semi-finals.
Earlier, former champion Elena Rybakina defeated an injury-hit Anna Kalinskaya to reach her third successive Wimbledon quarter-final.
World number four Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon winner from Kazakhstan, took the first set against the 18th-ranked Russian 6-3 on Centre Court.
Kalinskaya required a medical time-out at 3-4 down to treat what appeared to be neck and wrist injuries.
Rybakina then won the next five games before Kalinskaya called it quits.
Moscow-born Rybakina has now joined Margaret Court, Maria Sharapova, Evonne Goolagong, Chris Evert and Billie Jean King by winning 18 of her first 20 matches at Wimbledon.
She will take on either Elina Svitolina, the 21st seed from Ulkraine, or Wang Xinyu of China for a place in the semi-finals.
Former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko beat Iga Swiatek’s conqueror Yulia Putintseva 6-2, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals.
Tha 27-year-old Latvian, whose only Grand Slam title came at the French Open in 2017, broke her Kazakh opponent five times in the match, hitting 29 winners against 26 unforced errors.
The 13th seed, a semi-finalist at Wimbledon in 2018, next faces either US 11th seed Danielle Collins or Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic.
Russian-born Putintseva, ranked 35, beat world number one Swiatek in the last 32 on Saturday.
We’re you saying Rune or Ru-urns?
Great comeback and win, but you could see Zverev wasn’t able to move in the final set with his knee injury.
Great opportunity for Fritz to make the semis.
Great match
Stunning match
@Square: ….the freedom with which Fritz hit the ball in the last 2 sets was a joy to watch.