Rivalries of 2024: Taylor Fritz vs. Alexander Zverev | ATP Tour

Better of 2024

Rivalries of 2024: Fritz vs. Zverev

American asserts Lexus ATP Head2Head dominance in standout 12 months 

November 27, 2024

To mark the tip of one other thrilling season, ATPTour.com is unveiling our annual ‘Finest Of’ collection, which is able to mirror on probably the most intriguing rivalries, matches, comebacks, upsets and extra. This week, we’re the very best rivalries of the 12 months. 

Taylor Fritz seems to have mastered his rivalry with Alexander Zverev of their Lexus ATP Head2Head collection this 12 months.

The American, who completed the 12 months at a profession excessive of No. 4 within the PIF ATP Rankings, strung collectively 4 consecutive wins over Zverev throughout the again half of the season. After a convincing defeat to the German within the quarter-finals in Rome, Fritz locked in to showcase the evolution of their rivalry, marked by gorgeous comebacks, pivotal moments, and relentless competitors.

Rome QFs, Zverev d. Fritz 6-4, 6-3Two of the qualities which have confirmed pivotal in Zverev’s ascent to No. 2 within the PIF ATP Rankings have been his trusty backhand and vastly improved serve. In his Rome quarter-final conflict with Fritz, nonetheless, it was his forehand that made the headlines.

After falling to the courtroom within the third sport, which drew audible gasps from the group, Zverev steadied himself to safe a commanding victory. The German produced an expertly measured efficiency to restrict Fritz’s capability to assault from his favoured wing. As a substitute, Zverev unleashed 20 winners himself and confronted no break factors all through the match, in accordance with Infosys ATP Stats.

“That’s the shot I both win or lose matches with. That’s the way it’s been my complete profession,” Zverev mentioned of his forehand. “Once I’m hitting that shot nicely, that’s once I win.”

Zverev would go on to brush the sector in Rome to clinch his first ATP Masters 1000 trophy because the Cincinnati Open in 2021 and pull to a 5-3 lead in his Lexus ATP Head2Head with Fritz.

Wimbledon R16, Fritz d. Zverev 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 6-3
Main two units to like in opposition to Fritz of their Wimbledon conflict, it appeared as if Zverev reignted his momentum from their assembly in Rome. Nonetheless, if there was a textbook instance of a ‘momentum shift’, it got here with Zverev’s double fault at 4-4 within the third set.

It marked the primary time his serve had been damaged within the event and it additionally ignited a heroic comeback from Fritz, who clawed again and sealed victory from a two-set deficit for the third time in his profession. Not solely this, but it surely proved to be a major juncture of their Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalry, which turned a pointy nook.

“I assumed it could actually suck to be enjoying this nicely and to lose in three straight [sets],” mentioned Fritz, who improved to eight consecutive wins, together with the title in Eastbourne. “I had the idea. I assumed I used to be enjoying actually good tennis.”

US Open QFs, Fritz d. Zverev 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(3)
If Fritz was going to achieve semi-finals at a serious for the primary time, having failed in every of the earlier 4 events, he was going to must do it in model. Dealing with former US Open finalist Zverev, nonetheless, Fritz did simply that.

Along with his skillful baseline persistently and tactful method to the encounter, Fritz sealed a three-hour, 26-minute victory. In a fortnight of breaking new floor, Fritz then went on to defeat countryman Frances Tiafoe in a five-set epic to grow to be the primary American man to achieve the ultimate of a Grand Slam event since Andy Roddick in 2009.

“I really feel superb,” Fritz mentioned after his triumph in opposition to Zverev. “I’ve had loads of seems to be at quarter-finals previously couple of years, and at the moment simply felt completely different. I actually really feel that it was my time to take a step additional and it’s solely becoming I’m doing it right here on this courtroom on the [US] Open in entrance of this crowd.”

Taylor Fritz” model=”width:100%;” src=”https://www.atptour.com/-/media/photographs/information/2024/11/27/11/30/fritz-zverev-rivalries-us-open-2024.jpg”>Taylor Fritz in motion on the 2024 US Open. (Photograph Credit score: Sarah Stier/Getty Pictures)

Laver Cup RR, Fritz d. Zverev 6-4, 7-5
By the point of their subsequent assembly later in September, Fritz had received 4 of his earlier 5 hard-court matches in opposition to Zverev, and the momentum he was now carrying of their Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalry confirmed no indicators of slowing down. Though Fritz prevailed in straight units, the match was one more grueling instance of their fiercely contested baseline battles.

Claiming his seventh victory over a High 10 opponent in 2024, Fritz additional solidified his popularity as one of many season’s most improved gamers. Down 2-4 within the second set, Fritz drew on his regular sport to put on down Zverev, reeling off 5 of the final six video games to notch his third straight win over the German.

“I feel [our] video games match up nicely,” mentioned Fritz, who moved forward (6-5) of their Lexus ATP Head2Head collection for the primary time. “I can serve and dangle in there with my serve, as a result of he is very robust to interrupt. You need to have a great serve to remain within the match with him or else he is simply going to serve you out of the match.”

Nitto ATP Finals SFs, Fritz d. Zverev 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(3)Fritz closed his dominant 12 months in opposition to Zverev by snapping the Rolex Paris Masters champion’s eight-match profitable streak within the semi-finals in Turin. After a near-flawless opening set from Fritz, throughout which he received 18 out of 19 first-serve factors, Zverev eased into the encounter to drive a deciding set.

As had grow to be a sample in 2024, Fritz held his nerve within the demanding baseline exchanges, saving 5 all 5 break factors confronted within the third set to assert victory in a tie-break. The 2-hour, 21-minute triumph was Fritz’s fourth consecutive over Zverev of their intriguing rivalry. 

“I felt like I performed an nearly good first set, however issues can change so rapidly once you’re enjoying somebody like Sascha,” Fritz mentioned. “I discovered myself in some robust spots within the third, once we each began to get on one another’s serves much more.”