1 Response to wb25fritz_khachanov

1. Voo de Mar says:

   July 8, 2025 at 4:30 pm

   Points won by each set: | 31-19, 35-23, 15-29, 38-34 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   31 % Fritz – 35 of 105
   26 % Khachanov – 31 of 119

   Two tall players of similar age, showcasing similar game-styles (Fritz has a better serve and forehand) and a very good opportunity for each of them to play a first Wimbledon semifinal (Fritz lost his quarterfinals in 2022 and 2024) while Khachanov in 2021 – always five-setters required. Admittedly Fritz [5] has been a much better player in the past few years, but he’d faced Khachanov [20] twice before, losing both matches, so the Russian could be happy he didn’t encounter Alcaraz, Sinner or Djokovic at this stage. Fritz made a surprising decision implementing two FH dropshots in Khachanov’s opening service game, and it helped him to establish a 3:0 lead. In the 2nd set Khachanov led 4:3, but it seemed like a question of time when Fritz would take the set. Afterwards there was a rather bizarre 30-minute period when Fritz was playing abysmal tennis losing 8 out of 9 games. He trailed *0:2 (0/15) in the 4th set when he came back to his normal disposal, putting pressure on the Russian leading 5:4 and 6:5. Khachanov avoided the loss in those games being two points away, but in the ensuing tie-break Fritz displayed his serving supremacy striking 4 aces in 5 points on serve. On his first match point he sneaked to the net and finished the contest with a firm overhead… Fritz had barely survived the first round against Mpetschi 6-7(6), 6-7(8), 6-4, 7-6(6), 6-4, the current fastest server. The best US player born in the 90s lost the tie-breaks despite leading 6:4 and 6:2 respectively, then he took the third tie-break trailing *1:5!

   Serve & volley: Fritz 2/2, Khachanov 1/2

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