Taylor Fritz, the American No. 5 seed, has powered his way into the Wimbledon 2025 quarterfinals, but his latest victory came in an unexpected and bittersweet fashion. Facing Australia’s Jordan Thompson in the fourth round on July 6, 2025, Fritz was leading 6-1, 3-0 when Thompson, visibly hampered by injury, was forced to retire after just 41 minutes on Court 1. The abrupt end to the match, which marked Thompson’s deepest Wimbledon run, left Fritz with mixed emotions. In a display of sportsmanship, the 27-year-old immediately offered words of respect and empathy for his opponent, acknowledging the Australian’s valiant effort. “It’s obviously not the way that I want to go through,” Fritz said in his on-court interview. “I was really excited to play Jordan today, I was excited to play some good tennis. It’s just sad. … He’s been battling, playing five-setters. He was out playing a long doubles match yesterday, so he’s been battling out here and respect to him for coming out. His body’s not right. I feel bad for him and I hope he gets better.”
Fritz’s commanding performance was evident from the start. Under the closed roof of Court 1, as rain pounded outside, he unleashed his signature serve, firing three aces to clinch the first set in a mere 22 minutes. With 79 aces in the tournament—14 more than the next-best player, Nicolás Jarry—Fritz has solidified his reputation as Wimbledon’s “ace king.” He broke Thompson early in the second set, capitalizing on the Australian’s compromised movement due to a nagging back injury and heavily strapped hamstrings. Thompson, ranked No. 44, called for a medical timeout midway through the second set to address a right thigh issue, but after attempting three more points, he walked to the net to shake Fritz’s hand, ending his Wimbledon singles campaign. “Just got significantly worse today,” Thompson admitted, revealing the toll of his injuries, which include a herniated disc, a ruptured plantar fascia, a groin tear, and an oblique tear in 2025 alone.
Thompson’s journey to the fourth round was nothing short of heroic. The 31-year-old Aussie fought through two grueling five-set matches in the first and second rounds against Vit Kopriva and Benjamin Bonzi, respectively, before overcoming Italy’s Luciano Darderi in four sets, 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. His resilience, despite a body pushed to its limits, earned admiration from peers and fans alike. Fritz, who had faced his own marathon battles earlier in the tournament—including five-set wins over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard and Gabriel Diallo, and a four-setter against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina—recognized Thompson’s grit. “He’s been battling out here, playing five-setters,” Fritz reiterated, emphasizing his respect for Thompson’s determination to compete despite the odds.
The premature end to the match gave Fritz a rare breather after a physically demanding tournament, setting him up for a quarterfinal clash against Russia’s 17th seed Karen Khachanov, who advanced with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 win over Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak. Fritz, who reached the US Open final in 2024, sees Wimbledon as a golden opportunity to claim his first Grand Slam title. His strong grass-court form, highlighted by a 2024 Queen’s Club semifinal, makes him a formidable contender, though Thompson had bested him 6-4, 6-3 in their last grass-court meeting at Queen’s last year. “I had a good Queen’s [campaign] last year,” Thompson had said before the match. “He probably didn’t have his best day, but I was playing some good grass-court tennis. Hopefully, I can provide that again.” Unfortunately, his injuries prevented a repeat performance.
Fritz’s path to the quarterfinals marks the fifth consecutive major with an American man in the last eight, a streak not seen since 2002-2004. With Ben Shelton also reaching the fourth round, American tennis is enjoying a resurgence, though only Sam Querrey (2017) and John Isner (2018) have reached Wimbledon semifinals in the past 15 years. As Fritz eyes a deeper run, his empathy for Thompson underscores his character. Thompson, meanwhile, faces uncertainty, particularly regarding his doubles campaign with Pierre-Hugues Herbert, admitting he’s “95 per cent” likely to withdraw due to his injuries. “Everything in my body is already aggravated, and I think I just made it worse,” he said, reflecting on the moment he chased a Fritz lob, exacerbating his condition. With plans to undergo an MRI and focus on recovery for the US Open, Thompson remains optimistic, vowing to “live in the gym” to rebuild his body.
Fritz’s gracious words and dominant play highlight why he’s a fan favorite and a serious contender. As he prepares for Khachanov, the American carries not only his powerful game but also the respect of his peers, making his Wimbledon journey one to watch.
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