Taylor Fritz is through to the semi-finals of Wimbledon after beating Russia’s Karen Khachanov in straight sets.
Fritz, seeded fifth at Wimbledon, has shown impressive grit to make his way through the draw, having overcome a ‘scary match’ against Giovanni Mpetshi-Perricard before defeating Gabriel Diallo – both in five sets.
This is not Fritz’s first time in the latter stages of a Grand Slam. The American made the US Open final in 2024, before losing to world number one Jannik Sinner.
Fritz faces Carlos Alcaraz next at Wimbledon. The American claimed he ‘couldn’t do anything’ against Alcaraz when they faced off at the Laver Cup last year.
Taylor Fritz says his US Open final experience will help him against Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon semi-final
Speaking to the Tennis Channel, Fritz was asked by Jon Wertheim about what he could draw from his experience of reaching the US Open final in 2024.
Fritz said: “I think just being in that in that situation it makes it feel not so crazy once you’ve already been there and done that.
I think the one thing that’s… I was thinking about the quarter-final match today, the other two times I was in the quarters of Wimbledon I was very… I mean I was nervous but I was also like it was a really big deal to be in the quarters and me playing for a chance in the semis and it didn’t feel like that today.
“It felt like any other match and that’s just experience.
“That’s just having been in the moment several times since then. I think that’s, you know, just having that experience of being there helps a lot.”
Fritz has demonstrated why he is top five in the world at Wimbledon so far. However, he faces a different beast in the form of Alcaraz.
The American has never beaten the two-time defending Wimbledon champion, losing to him in 2023 in Miami and at the Laver Cup last year.
Taylor Fritz doesn’t know if anything will ‘top’ the nerves of playing Frances Tiafoe in the US Open semi-final
Fritz was asked by the Tennis Channel hosts to compare the experiences of making the semi-final at the US Open and Wimbledon.
Fritz said: “It’s the same. To be honest, if anything the US Open, being American it might be even bigger.
“I don’t know if the nerves for playing Frances (Tiafoe) in the semi-finals, in New York can really… I don’t know if anything is going to top that.”
Fritz beat the likes of Casper Ruud, Matteo Berrettini and Alexander Zverev on his way to the US Open Final in 2024, before succumbing to Jannik Sinner.
If he is to win his maiden Grand Slam at SW19, he will likely have to go through either Sinner or Novak Djokovic if he is able to overcome Alcaraz.
