Wimbledon: Taylor Fritz Reaches Quarterfinals as Jordan Thompson Retires with Injury

By: INGLOBE Magazine News Desk

U.S. Open runner-up Taylor Fritz advanced to the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the third time in four years on Sunday after his Australian opponent, Jordan Thompson, retired due to injury while trailing 6-1, 3-0 in their fourth-round match. The contest lasted just 41 minutes as Thompson, hampered by back and leg issues, was unable to continue despite a medical timeout in the second set.

Key Highlights: Fritz Advances Amidst Opponent’s Injury

Thompson’s Injury Forces Early Retirement
Thompson entered the match already struggling with back and leg problems, visibly compromised in movement and power. After taking a medical timeout early in the second set, he attempted to continue but ultimately retired after just three more points. Fritz had dominated the first set with powerful serving, including multiple aces, and quickly broke Thompson’s serve again in the second set.

Fritz’s Comments on the Match
“It’s obviously not the way that I want to go through,” said the No. 5-seeded Fritz. “It’s just sad... Respect to him for coming out. His body’s not right.” Fritz acknowledged the physical toll on Thompson, who had played multiple long matches earlier in the tournament.

Next Challenge: Karen Khachanov
Fritz will face No. 17 seed Karen Khachanov of Russia in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. Neither player has reached the Wimbledon semifinals before, setting the stage for a highly anticipated clash. Khachanov is a two-time Grand Slam semifinalist, while Fritz reached the U.S. Open final last year.

Fritz’s Wimbledon Journey So Far
This tournament has been physically demanding for Fritz, who played two five-set matches and one four-set match before Sunday’s quick victory. His strong serve has been a key weapon, leading Wimbledon with 79 aces so far, 14 more than the next competitor.

Other Notable Matches

Sunday’s schedule also featured marquee men’s matches including two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz facing No. 14 Andrey Rublev, and Nicolas Jarry versus Cam Norrie. On the women’s side, top seed Aryna Sabalenka played No. 24 Elise Mertens, while other fourth-round matches included Amanda Anisimova, Linda Noskova, Sonay Kartal, and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

Upcoming Matches on Monday

The quarterfinal lineup will be finalized after Monday’s play, which begins with 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic against No. 11 Alex de Minaur. Other matches include Mirra Andreeva vs. Emma Navarro, and Jannik Sinner vs. Grigor Dimitrov. Also in action are Iga Swiatek, Ben Shelton, and Marin Cilic.

Why This Matters

Taylor Fritz’s advancement to the Wimbledon quarterfinals keeps alive hopes for an American male champion at the All England Club, a feat last achieved by Pete Sampras in 2000. His powerful serve and resilience through tough matches position him as a formidable contender as the tournament reaches its climax.

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