Taylor Fritz reached his first Wimbledon semi-final on Friday, where he will face the two-time defending champion, Carlos Alcaraz, in the opening men’s semi-final match. The American No. 1 earned this chance by overcoming Karen Khachanov in four sets, aiming to challenge Alcaraz’s pursuit of a rare French Open-Wimbledon double.
Examining Their Path to This Crucial Meeting
Fritz narrowly avoided extending Wimbledon quarter-final drama after intense five-set losses in 2022 and 2024, this time securing a more decisive victory. Having fallen short against Rafael Nadal and Lorenzo Musetti in previous years by close margins, Fritz appeared relieved during his post-match interview about sidestepping another grueling five-setter. His previous matches included a heartbreaking near-win against Nadal in 2022, where he was one set from victory before falling in a final set tiebreak. Against Musetti last year, Fritz managed to level the match but ultimately lost the deciding set dominated by his opponent.
This year, after recovering from a third-set dip and managing a swift medical intervention, Fritz delivered precise tennis to close out Khachanov in the fourth set tiebreak, marking his first triumph over the Russian player after three attempts. This win secured his first Wimbledon semi-final and only his second Grand Slam semi-final overall.
Fritz’s impressive grass-court form is highlighted by 13 match victories this season, and he aims to add another against Alcaraz, who has yet to lose to Fritz on the ATP Tour. The American knows that unlike his 2023 US Open final, where he led Frances Tiafoe before finishing runner-up, facing Alcaraz presents new challenges, given the Spaniard’s recent dominance.
Alcaraz’s Dominance and Momentum
Carlos Alcaraz entered Wimbledon on a strong run, marked by a flawless 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 quarter-final win over Cameron Norrie on Tuesday that stunned the Centre Court crowd. This victory extended Alcaraz’s winning streak to 23 matches following his loss to Holger Rune in April’s Barcelona Open final, pushing his season record to an impressive 47-5.
The 22-year-old’s match results show steady improvement throughout the tournament after a tough five-set first-round encounter against Fabio Fognini. His subsequent solid performances against Andrey Rublev and Norrie proved his form has peaked at the right time, making him a formidable opponent going into the semi-final.
Alcaraz’s straight-sets win over Norrie was notable given the Briton’s previous two victories against him, signaling the Spaniard’s growing confidence on grass. As a three-time Wimbledon semi-finalist, Alcaraz is on course to reach the final for the third consecutive year, with past semi-final wins against Daniil Medvedev in 2023 and 2024 solidifying his strong record. The second seed boasts an outstanding 23-2 Wimbledon record and is favored to add to his 76 Grand Slam match wins with a 77th on Friday.
Matchups and Playing Styles: Analyzing Head-to-Head Records
Although Fritz and Alcaraz have not faced each other on grass, the Spaniard holds a perfect 2-0 record against the American on other surfaces, having not dropped a set to Fritz in their past ATP meetings. Their most recent clashes include the 2024 Laver Cup round-robin (Alcaraz victory 6-2, 7-5) and the 2023 Miami Masters quarter-final (Alcaraz 6-4, 6-2).
Statistically, Fritz has delivered consistent serving throughout Wimbledon. Across two marathon five-set rounds, he never faced break points in the first round and faced only minimal service disruptions in subsequent rounds, reflecting a reliable serve under pressure. However, Alcaraz has claimed more return games overall with 27 compared to Fritz’s 19, reflecting his aggressive return game and court coverage.
When it comes to service points, Fritz leads slightly in winning both first and second-serve points — 85% to 77% and 69% to 53% respectively. Conversely, Alcaraz’s ability to apply strong pressure on return games and maintain high first-serve percentages, especially noted in the quarter-final against Norrie where he won 89% of first-serve points, shows his well-rounded game.
Fritz’s Run Through the 2024 Wimbledon Draw
Fritz’s Wimbledon journey has been marked by resilience and battling spirit:
- First round: Defeated Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in five sets, 6-7(6), 6-7(8), 6-4, 7-6(6), 6-4.
- Second round: Triumphed over Gabriel Diallo 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(0), 4-6, 6-3.
- Third round: Upended Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-4, 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-1.
- Fourth round: Advanced after Jordan Thompson retired at 6-1, 3-0.
- Quarter-final: Won against Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(4).
Alcaraz’s Path to the Semi-Final
Alcaraz’s solid displays throughout the tournament include:
- First round: Narrow victory over Fabio Fognini 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1.
- Second round: Swept Oliver Tarvet 6-1, 6-4, 6-4.
- Third round: Bested Jan-Lennard Struff 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
- Fourth round: Beat Andrey Rublev 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
- Quarter-final: Dominated Cameron Norrie 6-2, 6-3, 6-3.
Expectations for the Semi-Final Battle
The upcoming match is widely seen as a challenging test for Fritz, who has demonstrated an increasingly effective serve and competitive groundstrokes through his Wimbledon run. While Alcaraz’s superior consistency, shot variety, and recent form position him as the favorite, Fritz’s potential to claim at least one set cannot be overlooked given his strong serving and tactical play.
With the stakes high, the outlook favors Alcaraz to secure victory in four sets and proceed to a final against either Jannik Sinner or Novak Djokovic. This semi-final will test Fritz’s resolve and skill, offering viewers an intriguing contest between the rising underdog and the established champion.
“I was relieved to have avoided another five-set quarter-final at Wimbledon, having suffered heartbreak against Nadal in 2022 and Musetti 12 months ago.”
—Taylor Fritz, American No. 1
“The quarter-final victory over Khachanov was my first in three attempts, and advancing to my maiden semi-final at the All England Club is a big milestone.”
—Taylor Fritz
“Beating the British player comfortably was especially surprising, considering the 2022 semi-finalist had won two of their previous matchups before Tuesday.”
—Tournament Analyst