TENNIS: Panicked Fritz caught off guard by knee issue in Zverev loss

LONDON — Taylor Fritz said a flare-up of chronic tendonitis in his right knee caught him off guard and left him struggling during his straight-sets loss to second-seeded Alexander Zverev in the Wimbledon quarterfinals on Wednesday.

Fritz, who had won each of his previous seven meetings against Zverev, received treatment on his knee early in the second set before falling 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 on Court One.

The American said he began feeling discomfort just a few games into the match, making it difficult to perform at his best. Although he believes he could have played better despite the injury, Fritz acknowledged that Zverev was outstanding throughout the contest.

"He was serving incredibly well, stayed aggressive from both wings, and played a great match," Fritz said. "I would have liked to be 100% and see how the match would have unfolded."

The injury came as an unexpected setback after Fritz skipped much of the clay-court season to manage the knee issue. He entered Wimbledon feeling confident following runner-up finishes at Stuttgart and Halle, where he also defeated Zverev in the semifinals.

Fritz said he first noticed soreness near the end of his fourth-round victory over Alexander Bublik but expected the pain to subside after a light practice day.

"I felt good during my warm-up, so I was surprised when the pain returned just a few games into the match," he said.

With the victory, Zverev advanced to the Wimbledon semifinals, where he will face British wildcard Arthur Fery.

Fritz said Fery will face a difficult challenge against the in-form German, whose powerful serve and confidence have made him one of the tournament's toughest opponents.

He added that while the home crowd at Centre Court could provide Fery with support, Zverev's consistent serving and current form make him a formidable favorite heading into the semifinal. -Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in London; Editing by Alison Williams/Reuters