Taylor Fritz wins resumed Wimbledon match in which Mpetshi Perricard hit a record 153 mph serve
Not only did 2024 U.S. Open runner-up Fritz need to turn things around after dropping the opening two sets, but he was two points from defeat on a half-dozen occasions in the fourth-set tiebreaker Monday night.
'A really crazy match,' the No. 5-seeded Fritz said Tuesday after wrapping up the victory at No. 1 Court. 'I thought it was about to be all over last night in the fourth-set tiebreaker. But he came back on me in the first two tiebreakers, so I thought maybe I had one in me. I'm super happy to get through it.'
After Fritz forced the fifth set on Monday at about 10:15 p.m., the match was suspended because there is a curfew at the All England Club that halts play at 11 p.m., and officials were concerned about finishing by that time. It was clear Fritz preferred to continue, but it wasn't up to him.
'I mean, it's obviously not ideal. I felt like if we weren't going to have time to finish the fifth set, then absolutely I think it makes sense not to play the fifth set. But we were having sets about as long as you can possibly play sets, and they were still in the time frame that we had last night to play the fifth,' the 27-year-old Californian said. 'I obviously wanted to play it, but either way, I felt confident coming back today (and) getting it done, as well.'
As it turned out, he needed only 35 minutes Tuesday to get the job done in a contest that featured 66 total aces — 37 by Mpetshi Perricard, 29 by Fritz.
On the third point of the match Monday, Mpetshi Perricard — a 6-foot-8 Frenchman who is 21 — smacked a serve at 153 mph, eclipsing the old tournament best of 148 mph hit by Taylor Dent in 2010.
Fritz not only managed to get his racket on the ball and return it, but he eventually took that point with a forehand volley winner.
Thursdays
Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter.
'The funny thing is, I always tell my coaches (when) they sometimes say maybe I should try to serve (into the) body … (that) I think body serves are awful. I never win the point when I do it,' Fritz said. 'And I sent the video (of the 153 mph serve) to my coach, saying: 'There you go. He served the fastest serve in the history of Wimbledon right into my chest, and I won the point, so there's your proof: Body serves are bad.''
Fritz lost in the first round at the French Open last month, but he is far more comfortable on slick, speedy grass courts, which reward the power on his big serve and forehand. He reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in 2022 and last year and is coming off his fourth Eastbourne Open title on the surface last week.
'This is a huge, huge week for me, with the recent results on grass. So I was thinking about that in this match,' he said. 'It put a lot of pressure on me, because I really didn't want to go out in the first round.'
___
Howard Fendrich has been the AP's tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here: https://apnews.com/author/howard-fendrich. More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
35 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Jacob deGrom wins 5th decision in row, Adolis García drives in 4 runs as Rangers beat O's 10-2
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Jacob deGrom won his fifth consecutive decision in another impressive start, Adolis García drove in four runs and the Texas Rangers beat the Baltimore Orioles 10-2 on Tuesday night. Alejandro Osuna hit his first career homer for Texas, which had gone extra innings in each of its previous four games — losing three of those. DeGrom (9-2, 2.13 ERA) struck out six over six innings in his 14th consecutive start working at least five innings and allowing two runs or fewer. That extended his franchise record and is the longest streak in the majors this season. The two-time Cy Young Award winner scattered five hits, allowing a two-run homer to Gary Sánchez that just cleared the wall. Six nights earlier in Baltimore, deGrom was perfect through six innings and took a no-hitter into the eighth. García put the Rangers ahead to stay with his two-run single in the third, and scored on Jonah Heim's single to make it 3-0 against rookie right-hander Brandon Young (0-3). García had another two-run single in the fifth, an inning before Osuna's two-run homer. Jacob Latz worked the final three innings for his first career save. Key moment Sánchez homered on the next pitch, for the only Baltimore runs, after his two-out foul pop in the fourth inning that dropped just beyond the extended reach of first baseman Josh Smith into the Rangers dugout. Key stat Justin Foscue drove in two runs with a pinch-hit double in the eighth, ending his 0-for-44 slide that was the longest in Rangers history. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Up next Nathan Eovaldi (4-3, 1.87 ERA) pitches for Texas in the series finale Wednesday night, only the right-hander's second start since a month-long stay on the injured list because of elbow inflammation. Tomoyuki Sugano (6-4, 4.06) pitches for Baltimore. ___ AP MLB: ___
Winnipeg Free Press
35 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Guirassy scores twice and Dortmund advances at Club World Cup with 2-1 win over feisty Monterrey
ATLANTA (AP) — Serhou Guirassy scored a pair of first-half goals, both assisted by Karim Adeyemi, and Borussia Dortmund held off Monterrey 2-1 Tuesday night in the final round of 16 game at the Club World Cup. Guirassy drove a shot just inside the left post in the 14th minute, then sent another past keeper Esteban Andrada in the 24th when left unmarked from 15 yards at the top of the penalty area. Both times, it was Adeyemi delivering the pass that set up Guirassy, a native of France who plays for Guinea's national team. The 29-year-old striker has three goals in four tournament games and 37 across all competitions in his first season with Dortmund. Dortmund will face Real Madrid on Saturday at East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Spanish power advanced with a 1-0 victory over Italy's Juventus in an afternoon match. Jobe Bellingham received a yellow card in the 28th minute and will miss the match against Real – and his brother, former Dortmund star Jude Bellingham — because of yellow card accumulation. Rayados, cheered by a large contingent of flag-waving supporters in Atlanta, bounced back from the sluggish start to make a game of it. Less than three minutes into second half, a cross to the far post deflected off the head of a Dortmund defender before Érick Aguirre headed it back across the net to Germán Berterame, who headed it in to cut the deficit to a single goal. Using their speed to attack Dortmund vertically, Monterrey dominated the second half and had several chances to level the score. But the German team held on, despite the Mexican squad holding a 59% edge in possession and a 7-3 advantage in shots on goal. The late game drew a crowd of 31,442 at cavernous Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where the upper deck wasn't needed. But the sweltering U.S. heat wasn't an issue with the roof closed in Atlanta. American Gio Reyna did not play for the third time in four games at the Club World Cup, another sign that his tenure with Dortmund could be winding down. Key moment Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Dortmund started strongly, thanks to a nifty flick from Adeyemi at the top of the area that set up Guirassy's opening goal. Takeaways Dortmund's victory means five of the eight clubs in the quarterfinals are from Europe. Monterrey was the last club left from North America. ___ AP soccer:
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
No flirting with perfection for deGrom against O's this time. Just another solid start for Texas ace
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — There was no flirting with perfection this time for Texas Rangers ace Jacob deGrom against the Orioles. Just another impressive start for the two-time Cy Young Award winner in his comeback from elbow surgery. DeGrom struck out six on Tuesday night and limited the Orioles to two runs over six innings, on a homer by Gary Sánchez that just cleared the wall. The 37-year-old right-hander departed with a 7-2 lead, six days after he was perfect through six innings and took a no-hitter into the eighth in Baltimore. It was the 17th start this season for deGrom, and the 14th in a row he worked at least five innings while also allowing two runs or fewer. That extended his franchise record, and is the longest streak in the majors this season. Baltimore had a runner early this time, when Ryan O'Hearn drew a leadoff walk in the second inning. Cedric Mullins led off the third with a bunt single, though he was then thrown out trying to steal second base. Sanchez hit a two-run homer with two outs in the fourth. The 381-foot shot barely got over the wall in left, and came one pitch after his foul pop that dropped just beyond the extended reach of first baseman Josh Smith into the Rangers dugout. After missing most of his first two seasons with the Rangers because of his second Tommy John surgery, deGrom has thrown 101 1/3 innings this year, his first time over 100 in a season since he threw 204 in 2019 — when he won his second consecutive National League Cy Young while with the New York Mets. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. He threw only 41 innings combined in nine starts the past two seasons after signing his $185 million, five-year contract with Texas in free agency. Texas won all six starts deGrom made in his Texas debut before the end of April in 2023 before surgery, then he rehabbed most of last year before a 1.69 ERA and 14 strikeouts over 10 2/3 innings in three September starts. DeGrom made 12 starts during the COVID-19-shortened 60-game season in 2020, and had career-low 1.08 ERA over 92 innings in 2021 before missing the final three months with right forearm tightness and a sprained elbow. He was shut down late during spring training in 2022 because of a stress reaction in his right scapula, then went 5-4 with a 3.08 ERA in 11 starts the last two months of that season before becoming a free agent. ___ AP MLB:
