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A16 SPORTS
Tuesday 9 July 2024
Taylor Fritz defeats two-time Grand Slam finalist Alexander Zverev

in Wimbledon’s fourth round

By HOWARD FENDRICH Fritz hit 15 aces, with zero
AP Tennis Writer double-faults, and Zverev
LONDON (AP) — Taylor Fritz delivered 19 aces while com-
turned things around after peting with a gray sleeve
dropping the opening two on left knee, which he hurt
sets to defeat two-time during a fall in his previous
Grand Slam finalist Alexander match and said had a bone
Zverev 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), bruise.
6-3 on Monday and reach “It was fairly obvious that I
the Wimbledon quarterfinals. wasn’t 100% today, right? I
The 13th-seeded Fritz, a wasn’t moving, really, the
26-year-old from California, entire match. I wasn’t run-
equaled his career-best ning for drop shots. If I was
showing at a major tourna- running for a drop shot, I was
ment. limping there more than run-
“It was amazing to do that ning,” Zverev said. “Towards
on Centre Court (at) Wimble- the end I mean, I thought
don, two sets down, in front from the fourth and fifth set I
of this crowd,” said Fritz, was really struggling to serve,
who lost to 22-time major as well, to jump off on my
champion Rafael Nadal in leg, to create some power.”
the quarterfinals at the All The key stat, really, was this:
England Club two years ago. Taylor Fritz of the United States falls as he attempts to make a backhand return to Alexander Fritz faced only two break
“The thing was, I felt like I was Zverev of Germany during their fourth round match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in points and saved one, while
still playing really well for be- London, Monday, July 8, 2024. Associated Press accumulating four and con-
ing down two sets. I was just verting two.
thinking it would suck to be in this edition of the grass- he played at Wimbledon this serve and return,” he pre- When it ended, Fritz threw his
playing this well and just lose court tournament, more than year and having held in all dicted. head back and let out a yell,
in three straight, so let’s take in any other year. 41 of his service games not “It’s going to be a match of before meeting Zverev at the
the third. … I had that belief.” The fourth-seeded Zverev even facing a single break very few chances, and who- net for an extended chat.
The 3 1/2-hour match, played was the runner-up to Carlos point since the first round. ever takes the chances, kind “It felt like in the fifth set, he
with the main stadium’s re- Alcaraz at the French Open But Fritz broke him one time of comes up with something, wasn’t moving as well,” Fritz
tractable roof shut, was the last month after blowing a each in the third and fifth plays better in those tight said. “So I just wished him the
35th to go five sets at Wim- 2-1 lead in sets. He also lost sets. moments, it’s probably go- best.”
bledon this year, tying the in the final of the 2020 U.S. Looking ahead to this match- ing to make the difference.” Fritz joined countryman
record for the most at any Open against Dominic Thiem up, Fritz’s analysis was rather Both thrived with big serves Tommy Paul in the final eight,

Slam event in the Open era, after wasting a two-set lead succinct and, it turned out, and short exchanges. giving the United States two
which began in 1968. and a match point. completely accurate. They combined for 124 win- men that deep in the tourna-
And Fritz’s comeback is the The German entered Mon- “We’re playing on grass. It’s ners (69 by Fritz) and 56 un- ment for the first time since
11th from a two-set deficit day having won all nine sets just going to come down to forced errors (23 by Fritz). 2000. q

UConn, coach Dan Hurley agree to 6-year, $50 million deal a

month after he spurned offer from Lakers

STORRS, Conn. (AP) — UCo- million contract through coaches nearly a month Athletic Fund, the release program has rebuilt for sup-
nn and men’s basketball the 2029-30 season that after he turned down a lu- added. It replaces the six- porters and fans.
coach Dan Hurley have makes him one of the na- crative offer to coach the year, $32.1 million agree- He added: “We will con-
agreed to a six-year, $50 tion’s highest paid college Los Angeles Lakers. ment reached in June 2023 tinue to obsessively pursue
Hurley, who passed on guid- after Hurley won his first na- championships and historic
ing the storied NBA club to tional championship with success, while continuing
return to the two-time de- UConn. to develop great young
fending NCAA champions, Hurley 141-58 in six seasons men. Bleed Blue!”
can also earn more through with the Huskies and 292- UConn President Radenka
performance-based incen- 163 overall entering his 15th Maric called Hurley the na-

tives, a Monday release as a Division I head coach tion’s best men’s basketball
from the school stated. He acknowledged that the coach and said he was de-
will receive $6.375 million Lakers’ six-year, $70 million lighted Hurley will continue
next season in addition to offer was “obviously tempt- to call it home. Athletic
his $400,000 base annual ing.” He was also men- director David Benedict
salary, which includes com- tioned as a candidate for praised Hurley and wife
pensation from speaking, the Kentucky coaching va- Andrea for pouring them-
consulting and media ob- cancy after John Calipari selves into rebuilding the
ligations. left for Arkansas. But Hurley program added that the
The agreement, which reiterated last month that contract recognizes the
UConn head coach Dan Hurley celebrates cutting the net includes a $1 million an- he belongs at UConn and “immense” effort that has
after their win against Purdue in the NCAA college Final Four nual retention bonus, will stated in the release that produced the results and
championship basketball game, Monday, April 8, 2024, in be covered by increased “it’s an honor” to coach the dedication it will require
Glendale, Ariz. ticket sales revenue and and represent the school for the program to sustain
Associated Press
donations from the Husky and is proud of what the it.q