Fritz defies Khachanov fightback and line-call blooper to reach Wimbledon semis | Wimbledon 2025

Taylor Fritz survived a dip in mid-match, a daring response from his opponent and even another dysfunction of the lines while he beat Karen Khachanov of Russia 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (4) Tuesday to reach the semi-finals of Wimbledon for the first time.

The Americans crossed the first two sets with an imperious portion, without facing a single breaking point, only to dive considerably in the third to allow Khachanov to return to the match. But after having taken a late break at the start of the fourth, the seeded n ° 5 restarted its objective and played an almost impeccable equality break to move to a confrontation with the reigning champion, Carlos Alcaraz.

“It’s an incredible feeling,” said Fritz, who struck 16 AS. “Having played the quarter-finals here twice and lost in five times twice, I don’t think I could have taken another. I am really happy to be able to play in the semi-finals here. I feel good to go through. The match was going so well for me for two sets, I never really had a match.

The beginning of the fourth set saw another malfunction in the electronic line call system, when a right blow of Khachanov, which landed at four feet inside the basic line, was called “flaw”. The referee, Louise Azemar-Engzell, stopped the point, went on the phone to reset the system and the point was replayed. Although none of the two men looks reckless, Fritz ended up being broken while Khachanov was advancing.

But Fritz broke up for 2-2 and from that moment, the two men increased the level and started playing exceptional tennis. The Russian held the service at 5-5 from 0-30, thanks to a brilliant hiking stolen. Fritz was breathless again at the service, however, and in equality broken, he started with an ace of 138 MPH, struck two others and finished it with a Smash in the open ground.

Four years ago, after losing against Alexander Zverev here in the third round, Fritz wrote a note on his girlfriend’s phone, saying: “No one worldwide is more difficult than you are so good but 40 in the world, gather your shit.” Now he’s in the top five, reached his first Grand Chelem final at the US Open last year and is a match of a Wimbledon first final.

“At the time, my ranking slipped,” he said. “I came back from an operation and I felt like I did not play at the level that I felt as if I were to play. This note has never been supposed to be public. I was unleashed on this subject, she said, “Write it, look at it”. I am really happy with the way I have transformed my career in the past four years.

Alcaraz, who ended the British interest, which ended a first Wimbledon final, which ended the British interest with an impressive and impressive victory on Cam Norrie. The couple played twice, both on hard shorts, with Alcaraz winning both. The Spaniard has won the title in each of the last two years here, but Fritz thinks that if he can find his level, he has a chance to fight.

“I am happy that we are not playing the Open of France on Clay with the French open balls because it would be an absolute nightmare,” he said, laughing. “I think the grass is very good so an equalizer.

And as a American, Fritz says that he has already known the most pressure that he is likely to face, beating Frances Tiafoe to reach the United States final at last year’s open.

“It gave me a lot of confidence in these moments and situations, after being there, that I can start again,” said Fritz. “I played the pressure matches. I don’t think something becomes more stressful than playing Frances in New York for a place in the final.”