There will be an intriguing battle in the fourth round of Wimbledon on Monday, with Taylor Fritz and Alexander Zverev going head-to-head for a spot in the quarter-finals of the competition.
Fritz secured his spot in round four courtesy of a three-set win over Alejandro Tabilo, while Zverev eliminated Cameron Norrie from the competition last time out.
Match preview
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Fritz reached the quarter-finals of Wimbledon back in 2022, so he knows what it takes to advance to that stage of the competition, and the 26-year-old has shown enough this summer to suggest that he can cause Zverev plenty of problems when the two players lock horns on Monday.
The American had no troubles in his first-round match, beating Christopher O'Connell 6-1 6-2 6-4, but he did drop a set in his second-round contest with Arthur Rinderknech.
Fritz faced Tabilo in the third round of the competition, and he managed to triumph in three sets, meaning that he has only dropped one set during a strong start to the tournament.
Having beaten Zverev on three occasions before, including last year at the United Cup, Fritz will enter this contest full of confidence.
However, he will be coming up against a player who many are tipping to be a strong challenger to the likes of Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic for the trophy this summer.
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Zverev is yet to win a Grand Slam, but he has previously reached the final of the French Open and US Open.
The 27-year-old would actually make it his best-ever Wimbledon tournament if he made the quarter-finals, having fallen in round four in both 2017 and 2021, and the world number four has been impressive this summer, failing to drop a set in his opening three matches.
Indeed, Zverev beat Roberto Carballes Baena in three in the first round before storming past Marcos Giron to set up a third-round battle with Norrie.
It was another three-set win for Zverev, but the two players were involved in an incredible marathon tie-break, which the German won 17-15 to eliminate the Brit.
"He's playing unreal," Norrie said of Zverev when questioned after their match-up. "For me, he's one of the big favourites, for sure."
However, there will be slight concerns over a knee injury which Zverev sustained during the contest, and he will be hoping that the issue does not resurface on Monday.
Tournament so far
Taylor Fritz:
First round: vs. Christopher O'Connell 6-1 6-2 6-4
Second round: vs. Arthur Rinderknech 6-3 6-4 3-6 6-4
Third round: vs. Alejandro Tabilo 7-6[3] 6-3 7-5
Alexander Zverev:
First round: vs. Roberto Carballes Baena 6-2 6-4 6-2
Second round: vs. Marcos Giron 6-2 6-1 6-4
Third round: vs. Cameron Norrie 6-4 6-4 7[17]-6[15]
Head To Head
Washington (2016) - Round of 32: Alexander Zverev 6-4 6-2
Wimbledon (2018) - Round of 64: Alexander Zverev 6-4 5-7 [0]6-7 6-1 6-2
Basel (2019) - Round of 32: Taylor Fritz 7-6 6-4
Wimbledon (2021) - Round of 32: Alexander Zverev [3]6-7 6-4 6-3 7-6[4]
ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells (2021) - Quarter-final: Taylor Fritz 4-6 6-3 7-6[3]
ATP Cup (2022) - Round Robin: Alexander Zverev 6-4 6-4
United Cup (2023) - Round Robin: Taylor Fritz 6-1 6-4
ATP Masters 1000 Rome (2024) - Quarter-final: Alexander Zverev 6-4 6-4 6-3
These two players have locked horns on eight previous occasions, and it is Zverev that leads the head-to-head, having recorded five wins to Fritz's three.
Two of their previous encounters have taken place at Wimbledon, with Zverev triumphing in the round of 64 back in 2018 and round of 32 in 2021, while he beat Fritz in the quarter-finals of the ATP Masters 1000 in Rome earlier this year.
We say: Zverev to win in five sets
This has all of the makings of a fascinating contest, and both players will be confident heading into the match.
Zverev deserves to be placed as the favourite, though, and we are expecting the German to secure his position in the quarter-finals after what could be a long afternoon with plenty of twists and turns.
Matt Law
