In yet another setback at the US Open 2024, world no 4 Alexander Zverev crashed out of the title race after losing out to American Taylor Fritzin the quarter-final match. In a tight match that went on for three-hour, 26-minute, Zverev went down 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(3) to make an exit from the tournament.
Alexander Zverev’s Bid To Win A Grand Slam Title Ends At US Open 2024
Fritz earned 13 break points against Zverev’s powerful serve, and he converted two of them to the delight of the home fans inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. Although Zverev played well throughout, the game began slipping out of his hand due to lapses at important junctures. Forehand errors cost him both in the first-set tie-break and at 4-5 in the third set, when he dropped his serve despite initially having recovered from 0/40 to deuce.
The American won 81 per cent (66/81) of points behind his first serve. His aggressive style helped to put him in control in the extended rallies, even though Zverev claimed the only break of the second set in the eighth game.
“I feel amazing,” said Fritz. “I’ve had a lot of looks at quarter-finals in the past couple of years, and today just felt different. I really feel that it was my time to take a step further and it’s only fitting I’m doing it here on this court at the [US] Open in front of this crowd.”
Fritz entered the match 0-4 in quarter-final encounters at Grand Slam events. With this victory, World No. 12 Fritzin made it to his maiden semi-finals of a Grand Slam as he would be looking forward to converting it into a title win.
The United States have not had a men’s champion on home turf since Andy Roddick 21 years ago. Fritz’s win over former runner-up Zverev fuels hopes of breaking that jinx this year. The American dream is likely to get manifested especially after Frances Tiafoe defeated Gigor Dimitrov in another quarter-final match to set up a dream all-American semi-final on Friday.
Also Read: Fallen Stars At US Open 2024
Alexander Zverev is the latest in the string of the top contenders to have fallen out of the race. Earlier third seed Carlos Alcaraz and second seed Novak Djokociv made early exits from US Open 2024 in what is turning out to be an intriguing tournament.
