Rivalidades de 2024: Taylor Fritz vs Alexander Zverev | ATP Tour

best-of-2024

2024 Rivalries: Fritz vs Zverev

The American confirmed his dominance in the Lexus ATP Head2Head in a spectacular year

November 27, 2024

To mark the end of another exciting season, ATPTour.com presents our annual “Best” series, reflecting the most intriguing rivalries, matches, comebacks, upsets and much more. This week, we review the best rivalries of the year.

Taylor Fritz seems to have the measure of Alexander Zverev or, at least, that is what can be deduced if you look at the Lexus ATP Head2Head between the two this year.

The American, who finished the year at a career-high No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings, had four straight wins against Zverev throughout the season. After a resounding defeat against the German in the quarterfinals in Rome, Fritz put on armor to show the evolution of their rivalry, making great comebacks, unforgettable moments and a stellar performance.

Roma CF, Zverev v. Fritz 6-4, 6-3
Two of the qualities that have supported Zverev’s rise to No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings have been the reliability of his backhand and the vast improvement in his serve. In Rome’s quarter-final clash against Fritz, however, it was the forehand that made the difference.

After falling to the court in the third game, prompting a murmur from the stands, Zverev regrouped to secure the victory. The German put together a very solid performance, preventing Fritz from attacking with his right. However, Zverev had 20 winners and did not face any break options against him, according to Infosys ATP statistics.

“That is the shot with which I win or lose games. “That’s how it’s been my entire career,” Zverev said of the right. “When I hit that shot well, that’s when I win.”

Zverev would end up lifting the title at the ATP Masters 1000 in Rome, the first trophy in this category since he won the 2021 Cincinnati Open and left the Lexus ATP Head2Head in his favor against Fritz 5-3.

Wimbledon R16, Fritz v. Zverev 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 6-3
With a two-set lead over Fritz at Wimbledon, it seemed that Zverev had continued the dynamic of Rome against the American. However, if there was a clear example of what a change of dynamic is as the canons dictate, that was what happened with a double fault by Zverev at 4-4 in the third set.

It marked the first time his serve was broken in the tournament and also the beginning of a heroic comeback by Fritz, who ended up turning the match around and closing a comeback from two sets down for the third time in his career. Furthermore, that match marked a before and after in the Lexus ATP Head2Head between the two.

“I thought it was a horrible feeling to play that well and lose in three sets,” said Fritz, who then achieved his eighth consecutive victory, after having won the trophy in Eastbourne the previous week. “I had faith. “I played very good tennis.”

US Open CF, Fritz v. a Zverev 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(3)
If Fritz wanted to reach the semifinals of a Grand Slam for the first time, after having lost on the previous four occasions, he had to do it in a big way. He had to leave behind a former US Open finalist like Zverev. And that’s what Fritz did.

With his talent from the baseline to be consistent and his way of preparing the game, Fritz sealed the victory in three hours and 26 minutes. In a fortnight in which he broke his ceiling, the American would defeat his compatriot Frances Tiafoe in an epic five-set semifinal to become the first player from his country to reach the final of a Grand Slam since Andy Roddick in 2009.

“I feel incredible,” Fritz said after the clash against Zverev. “I had had many opportunities in the quarterfinals in the last two years and today I felt different. “I feel like it was my time to take a step forward and that’s what I’ve done here on this US Open court, in front of this crowd.”

Taylor Fritz” style=”width:100%;” src=”https://www.atptour.com/-/media/images/news/2024/11/27/11/30/fritz-zverev-rivalries-us-open-2024.jpg”>_{^{Taylor Fritz durante el US Open 2024. (Foto: Sarah Stier/Getty Images)}}

Laver Cup RR, Fritz v. Zverev 6-4, 7-5
Their next face-to-face meeting occurred in September, at a time when Fritz was coming off having won four of the five most recent duels against Zverev. And his dynamics in the Lexus ATP Head2Head showed no signs of fatigue. Of course, although the American won in two sets, the match was an exhausting battle from the back of the court.

With his seventh victory against a Top 10 rival in 2024, Fritz consolidated his dominance against one of the players who has progressed the most this season. Being down 2-4 in the second set, Fritz used his consistency to wear down Zverev, and thus he was able to win five of the last six games that allowed him to score his third consecutive victory against the German.

“I think our games fit well,” said Fritz, who overturned the Lexus ATP Head2Head for the first time with 6-5 in his favor. “I can serve and hold with my serve, because it is very difficult to break it. You have to have a good serve to stay in the match or else you are out.”

Nitto ATP Finals SF, Fritz v. Zverev 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(3)
Fritz closed his great year of dominance against Zverev by cutting off the Rolex Paris Masters champion’s streak of eight straight victories in the Turin semifinals. After an almost flawless set by Fritz, in which he took 18 of the 19 points he put into play with his first serve, Zverev found a way to reach the third set.

Following the pattern of 2024, the American held his nerve in the demanding baseline rallies, saving all five break chances he conceded in the third set to eventually win in the decisive set tie-break. In two hours and 21 minutes, Fritz signed his fourth consecutive victory against Zverev.

“I felt like I played an almost perfect first set, but things can change very quickly when you play with someone like Sascha,” Fritz warned. “I found myself in tough moments in the third, when we both started to hurt each other’s serves.”