Taylor Fritz Vs Karen Khachanov, Wimbledon: American Through To Maiden Semi-Final At SW19

Since the inaugural ATP Tour season in 1990, Taylor Fritz is the first American to reach three ATP-level semi-finals on grass in a calendar year. He will face reigning champion Carlos in the last-four stage

Taylor Fritz progressed to his first Wimbledon semi-final
Taylor Fritz progressed to his first Wimbledon semi-final
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Taylor Fritz booked his spot in the semi-finals at Wimbledon for the first time by defeating Karen Khachanov.

Fritz won 6-3 6-4 1-6 7-6 (7-4) in two hours and 35 minutes to set up a semi-final against Carlos Alcaraz.

World number five Fritz did not give away a single break point across the first two sets, but Khachanov hit his stride by winning five consecutive games in the third.

The fourth set started in unusual fashion after a point in the first game was replayed due to a malfunction with the electronic line call system, but Fritz managed to shrug off any distractions to see the match through.

After previously falling at the quarter-final hurdle twice at Wimbledon, Fritz was relieved to finally reach the last four.

“It's an amazing feeling,” Fritz told BBC Sport. “Having played the quarter-finals here twice and lost in five twice, I don't think I could've taken another one. I'm really happy.

“I'm feeling great. The match was going so well for me for two sets. I've never had a match flip so quickly, so I'm happy with how I came back. Momentum was not going to be on my side going into a fifth set.

“He definitely started playing a bit better. I gave him a lot of hope with not the best game to start the third set.

“I've never had a match change so drastically where I felt so in control, serving great, putting pressure on his serve, and then I started making a ton of mistakes.

“I felt I couldn't miss and then I started making a ton of mistakes. I had to fight to get that break back in the fourth and get the match back to neutral.”

Data Debrief: Fritz finding a way

Since the inaugural ATP Tour season in 1990, Fritz is the first American to reach three ATP-level semi-finals on grass in a calendar year.

Fritz had to contend with two five-setters in the opening rounds, but has now found his groove to become the first player since Andy Murray at Roland-Garros in 2016 to reach a grand slam semi-final having had to go the distance in his first two matches, and the first at Wimbledon since Vladimir Voltchkov in 2000.

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