The quarterfinal tussle between Taylor Fritz and Alexander Zverev in US Open 2024 has to be one of the most captivating games between two performers flexing their muscles for a semifinal slot. Both Fritz and Zverev will go into the match in top form, with a streak of four victories apiece. The match, scheduled for September 3rd, 2024, will be held on the iconic courts of Flushing Meadows as both add to their compelling head-to-head series that currently stands in favor of Zverev at 5-4. The last time the two met was at Wimbledon in 2023, when Fritz came out on top in a hard-fought five-set win.
Taylor Fritz (ATP #12)
Taylor Fritz goes into the quarters with an impressive 3-1 victory over Casper Ruud, with his powerful serve very instrumental. That said, he did post 24 aces and made 72% of his first serves to definitely prove an ability to dominate on his service games. Still, it wasn't without its blemishes, as noted by the 36 total errors, 35 unforced ones included. Fritz's return game, too, was less than satisfactory, as he won just 20 of 74 points on Ruud's first serve. Still, saving 5 of 6 break points and converting 4 break points of his own speaks to his resilience and mental fortitude under pressure.
No doubt, it will be his serve that is his biggest weapon for Fritz, and it's something he must exploit to the full against Zverev. Being able to win cheap points on serve, particularly with aces, could very well keep Zverev off balance. It is up to Fritz to look for aggression in his service games and try to keep the rallies short, so Zverev is unable to get into rhythm. One area in which Fritz could struggle is his return game, especially against the powerhouse service of Zverev. The American will most certainly need to advance his won return points if he is to unsettle Zverev at all. His baseline game, too, has been inconsistent at times this tournament, and he'll need to keep unforced errors at an absolute minimum if he stands any hope whatsoever.
Alexander Zverev (ATP #4)
Coming back to the men's draw, Alexander Zverev outlasted Brandon Nakashima in the Round of 16 with his all-around gameplay. Zverev served well, clocking 14 aces at a first serve percentage of 71%. More significantly, his return game was considerably superior to Fritz's as he took 26 out of 71 points on Nakashima's first serve and converted 6 break points. Zverev was solid enough with errors, hitting a total of 29 and 32 unforced, which he'll need to clean up against a player like Fritz. More experience in big matches could make the difference for Zverev, as he'll be trying to extend his series lead over Fritz.
His game is based on a stable serve, strong groundstrokes, and decent movement for someone of his height. Mixing up serves and keeping a high first-serve percentage will be crucial against Fritz, as the American has a strong return but often becomes erratic. The return game of Zverev may prove to be the trump card; if he can pressurize Fritz's serve and make good use of the second serve opportunities, then he can come out on top. The experience of handling pressure and doing well in the long rallies is another plus point for Zverev. Above all, he needs to hold his nerves and avoid those lapses which proved very costly for him earlier many times, especially when the matches were closing.
Expert Betting Tips
While both come into this match in fantastic form, Zverev simply possesses more experience, variety, and a better record when it comes to high-intensity matches. Fritz will have to serve out of his skin in order to stay in control of the match, but the more consistent return game of Zverev, along with his ability to extend the rallies, should help him take the match in crucial moments. It will be a tough, fought-to-the-end match that might go into four or five sets, but altogether in this game and psychological aspects, Zverev has an edge.
- Total Over 38.5 Games @ 1.6 Odds
- Alexander Zverev Win @ 1.63 Odds
- Alexander Zverev Win 3-1 @ 4.00 Odds
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