Taylor Fritz had a wonderful opportunity to make his first Grand Slam semifinal at Wimbledon. After defeating No.4 Alexander Zverev in five sets on Monday, the American No.13 seed was the higher seed against No.25 Lorenzo Musetti and the favorite to advance to the Final Four. Fritz, however, was unable to win his second straight five-setter against Musetti, losing 3-6, 7-6, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 in 3 1/2 hours.
Musetti, and not Fritz, will play No.2 and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals on Friday. The Serb has a 5-1 record versus Musetti. Musetti is the only Italian in the semis, as No.1 Jannik Sinner was eliminated in the quarterfinals by No.5 Daniil Medvedev. Since Andy Roddick’s victory in the 2003 U.S. Open, there have been 82 Grand Slam events without an American winner.
Fritz was seeking to become only the fourth American man in the previous 15 years to reach the Wimbledon semifinals, behind Roddick (2009), Sam Querrey (2017), and John Isner (2018). Pete Sampras won Wimbledon in 2000, making him the last American to accomplish it.
Musetti was timid to begin, and Fritz took an early break for 3-1 in the first set. The American then finished out the first with an ace up his sleeve. Fritz then got a break for 1-0 in the second when Musetti flew a forehand long. Musetti won the second set tiebreak with a second-serve service winner, which Fritz smacked into the net.
After cruising through the third set, Musetti blasted a forehand long on Fritz’s set point in the fourth, forcing a fifth set. Musetti, however, took command in the fifth set, going up 4-0 on a backhand slice winner into the open court. Fritz’s leg buckled when Musetti served at 5-1, 30-15, and he slumped to the court. Musetti closed it out on his serve for his first Grand Slam semifinal.
I think I played a fantastic match because Taylor was really in great shape. Really, really happy to be in my first semifinal here, Musetti said after emerging victorious. I probably have no words, but I try my best. I think I didn’t realize yet what I had done, the 22-year-old Italian added.
Djokovic is a legend. It’s always been a huge fight so I expect a big, big fight and I think it’s going to be one of the toughest challenges but I’m an ambitious guy and I like to be challenged and let’s see what’s gonna happen, he concluded.
