#NextGenATP Fritz Takes Lead Against Zverev

#NextGenATP Taylor Fritz is one set away from a stunning victory at Wimbledon, taking a 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(0) lead against fourth seed Alexander Zverev on Thursday before play was suspended due to darkness.

Fritz is pursuing his second main-draw win at the All England Club, after earning his first on Tuesday. He arrived at SW19 having lost his past four tour-level matches, but that has not stopped the American from putting forth his best performance of the year.

His opponent, three-time ATP World Tour Masters 1000 champion Zverev, won the pair’s only previous FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting in straight sets at the Citi Open in 2016. And the 21-year-old is no stranger to having his back against the wall. At Roland Garros, the German became the eighth player in the Open Era to battle through three consecutive five-setters in Paris.

Fritz performs well under pressure, too, holding a 12-2 record in deciding-set tie-breaks at all levels, including 5-2 at tour-level.

The winner will play former World No. 10 Ernests Gulbis, who defeated No. 27 seed Damir Dzumhur 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3. The Latvian advances to the third round at the All England Club for the second consecutive year, and he has a plethora of experience, competing in his 41st major main draw. Gulbis reached the semi-finals at Roland Garros in 2014 and the quarter-finals in 2008.

Dzumhur was fresh off of his third ATP World Tour title, lifting the trophy at last week’s Turkish Airlines Open Antalya.

Did You Know?
Zverev reached his first Grand Slam quarter-final at Roland Garros. Previously, he had not advanced past the Round of 16 in 11 attempts. 

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