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Taylor Fritz defeated Karen Khachahanov in four sets in the gentlemen’s quarterfinals in Wimbledon on Tuesday to become the first male American tennis player to make the Wimbledon semi -finals since 2018.
John Isner was the last American to reach the semi-finals of the grass course tournament.
Fritz, 27, won 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (4). The American dominated the first two sets when he took 40 of his 47 service points and never faced a break in this span.
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Taylor Fritz celebrates winning the gentlemen’s singles quarter last match against Karen Khachahanov at Wimbledon in London, Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
In the third set, however, the match turned when Khachahanov won eight of the next nine games. Fritz said he had never seen a fight turn on him so quickly.
“I mean he definitely started playing a little better, but I feel like I gave him a lot of hope with not the best game to start the third set for me. But I’ve never really had a match change as it looked drastically where I felt in control: to earn good, play well, I didn’t feel my serving was in danger,” Fritz said after the game on the field.
“I felt I put a lot of pressure on his serving, and then out of nowhere I feel like I started making lots of mistakes. Before, I felt I couldn’t miss, and then suddenly I make lots of mistakes. He puts a lot of balls into play, so I really had to struggle to get that break back in the fourth and kind of get the game back to neutral.”
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Taylor Fritz plays a return to Karen Khachahanov in Wimbledon in London, Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Fritz fell behind 2-0 in the fourth set, but gathered back to win the set in a draw. The # 5 ranked player in the world said it feels “amazing” to get through it.
“I feel good about getting through it. I feel like the match went so good for me two sets. I’ve never had a match really just lashes so fast.
Fritz entered the match with a 1-4 record in larger quarterfinals, including walking 0-2 on Wimbledon. The 27-year-old was runner-up at the US Open last year.
“It’s a great feeling,” Fritz said of making his first Wimbledon semi -final.
Taylor Fritz celebrates winning the men’s singles quarterfinals at Wimbledon in London, Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
“Obviously, after playing the quarterfinals here twice and after losing for five twice, I don’t think I could have taken another, so I’m happy. I’m really glad I’m going to play semis here.”
Khachahanov fell to 0-11 in Grand Slam matches against opponents ranked in the top five with the loss.
Fritz either faces two-time defense champion Carlos Alcaraz from Spain or Unseeded Cam Norrie from Britain for a berth in the final Friday.
