Alexander Zverev delivered a serving masterclass to defeat Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 in the Wimbledon quarter-finals, setting up a semi-final clash with British sensation Arthur Fery. The German second seed's first serve averaged 131.7mph, the fastest at Wimbledon this year, while his second serve clocked 115mph.
Zverev's dominance on serve
Fritz, the American sixth seed, struggled to cope with Zverev's power. "Zverev is going to be incredibly tough to beat with how well he's serving," Fritz said after the match. "That's not something that I feel really changes from day to day with him. I feel like you can kind of expect that he's going to show up and serve at least 70% first serves, bombs." Zverev's serve was a key factor, but he also showed aggression from the baseline, hitting clean winners off both wings.
Fritz hampered by knee injury
Fritz's challenge was compounded by tendinitis in his right knee, which flared up after three games. He required treatment but acknowledged that even at full fitness, Zverev would have been tough to beat. "I felt like, just because I was thinking about the knee, my focus was kind of all over the place," Fritz said. "But he was very aggressive with his forehand and his backhand as well. Very aggressive. Hit the ball great."
Zverev ready for hostile crowd
Zverev, who had never progressed beyond the last 16 at Wimbledon before this year, is relishing the semi-final against Fery. He expects the Centre Court crowd to overwhelmingly support the British wildcard. "I know that 99% of the people will be cheering for him," Zverev said. "But I also enjoy those kind of atmospheres. I enjoy it when the energy is very high." He praised Fery's game, noting his clean technique and groundstrokes, and said Fery deserves his semi-final spot.
Fery's fairytale run
Fery, ranked outside the top 100, has captured the imagination with his run to the semi-finals, including a victory over Flavio Cobolli. Zverev is wary of the challenge. "The first time I watched him play was actually in Australia," Zverev said. "He beat Cobolli in the first round. I was very impressed back then." The semi-final promises to be a contrast of styles, with Zverev's power serving against Fery's clean ball-striking.
