Fritz surprises the world in Madrid

Madrid is a clay-court tournament unlike any other. Taylor Fritz, ranked 13th in the world, is not renowned for his clay-court tennis. However, he's about to experience another Masters 1000 semi-final here. Taking advantage of the faster playing conditions in Spain (due to the altitude), Fritz is really hurting (since the start of the tournament, Fritz has 89 winners, 29 unforced errors, 35 aces, over 80% of points won on first serve). After three quiet victories (over Darderi, Baez and Hurkacz), the American had more trouble getting past a Francisco Cerundolo on alternating currents (6-1, 3-6, 6-3 in 1h47).

Without innovating much, the 26-year-old relied on the basics of his tennis to dispose of a Cerundolo a little less convincing than in the Round of 16 (where the Argentine had beaten Zverev). After a one-sided first set (6-1), Fritz held his nerve to counter an Argentinian on the rise. Highly effective on serve and ultra-aggressive with his first racket strokes, the American continued on his way.

Without making any noise, the American server is two matches away from the title. For a place in the final, he will face Andrey Rublev, who defeated Carlos Alcaraz.