Taylor Fritz is no stranger to pulling off the impossible. He’s a master at flipping the script, as seen in his epic comeback against Alexander Zverev at Wimbledon, where he rallied from two sets down to win. Fritz also wowed fans with a gritty victory over Federico Coria at the French Open, proving his unyielding determination. And in a career-defining moment, he reached his first Grand Slam final at the US Open, showing that when the stakes are high, Fritz delivers. This time in Miami, even Taylor was stunned by his own brilliance.
On Thursday, Fritz defied the odds in a dramatic Miami Open quarterfinal against Matteo Berrettini. The third seed overcame the Italian 7-5, 6-7(7), 7-5 in a gripping two-hour, 44-minute battle. Fritz had been on the brink of a straight-sets win, leading 6/3 in the second-set tiebreak, but Berrettini fought back to force a decider. Despite letting six match points slip away, Fritz refused to crumble under pressure.
The highlight of the match came during the second set’s ninth game when Fritz reacted with cat-like reflexes to return Berrettini’s blistering 127 MPH serve. Leaning over, he unleashed a stunning backhand that left everyone breathless. It was a blink-and-you-miss-it moment. Even Fritz couldn’t believe it, responding to Tennis TV’s post of the shot with: “Yeah, this one was crazy .”
Ya this one was crazy https://t.co/66ovHLIrZj
— Taylor Fritz (@Taylor_Fritz97) March 28, 2025
Fritz stayed composed despite missed chances and kept his focus. “There’s two options: get frustrated, lose, and then be even more frustrated about all the chances I blew—or regroup and get the win,” he said after the match. “Now I can sleep tonight and not be so mad at the chances I blew.” In the final set, Taylor broke Berrettini at 5-5 after saving two breakpoints earlier.
His aggressive returns paid off as he won 62% of second-serve return points and extended his flawless record against Berrettini to 5-0. “I’ve always liked to stand in and chip those forehands,” Fritz explained. “Especially when I get a hold of a backhand, I feel like I can really crush it.”
With this gutsy win, Fritz advanced to his first Miami Open semi-final and sixth ATP Masters 1000 semi-final overall. Can he go further? His coach might just have the answer!
Taylor’s coach shares his main goal to improve his game
Taylor Fritz had a rocky start to 2025, reaching just one quarter-final in his first four tournaments. At the Australian Open, he fell to Gael Monfils in the third round. Back in the U.S., Fritz managed only single-match wins at Delray Beach and the Dallas Open. His Indian Wells campaign ended in the fourth round, where eventual champion Jack Draper defeated him 7-5, 6-4. Despite early struggles, Fritz now finds himself in peak form at the Miami Open, preparing for a quarter-final clash against Matteo Berrettini.
Fritz’s coach, Michael Russell, has set ambitious goals for his player, including winning a Grand Slam title. “The long-term result goals, I’d love to see him win a Grand Slam title; that would be a momentous occasion,” Russell said to Tennis Channel. Reflecting on Fritz’s 2024 US Open final loss to Jannik Sinner, he emphasized areas for improvement: “He needs to come to the net more, own the transition and the middle of the court. He’s done better but still needs to take it more offensively to his opponent.” However, he has shown improvement in Miami.
Fritz powered his way into the Miami Open quarterfinals with a strong showing across his matches. He began his campaign by defeating Lorenzo Sonego in straight sets and followed it up with a commanding win over Denis Shapovalov, avenging his earlier losses to the Canadian. In the fourth round, Fritz sealed his spot in the last eight with a backhand winner against Adam Walton, showcasing his sharp form and confidence. He has yet to drop a set in Miami, and his solid serve and return game have been key to his success so far.
Now heading into his first Miami Open semi-final, Fritz will face Czech Jakub Mensik, who is playing his maiden semi-final at this level. Will he reach is third ATP Masters 1000 final? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
The post Taylor Fritz Goes “Crazy” on His Return as Fans Have a Field Day in an Exhilarating Victory Against Matteo Berrettini appeared first on EssentiallySports.
