Taylor Fritz’s hopes of reaching the semifinals of the Stuttgart Open were dashed after a surprise defeat by Hungarian qualifier Marton Fucsovics. The top-ranked American men’s player lost the first set after losing his serve in the opening game. Fucsovics sealed the win by breaking Fritz’s serve in the second set and then closing out the match on his fourth match point. The defeat means that Fritz will not face his friend Frances Tiafoe in the semifinals as expected. Instead, Fucsovics will take his place. This is Fucsovics’ first semifinal appearance since 2021 on any surface, and his first on grass despite winning the Wimbledon boys championship in 2010.
Tiafoe Advances to Semifinals
Frances Tiafoe won his match against Lorenzo Musetti to reach the last four of the Stuttgart Open. The third-seeded Tiafoe is now the highest-ranked player left in the draw. He won in three sets, losing the first set in a tiebreak but coming back to win the second set in a tiebreak and then winning the third set 6-2. This is Tiafoe’s first grass-court semifinal, having lost both of his previous career quarterfinals on the surface. In an unusual moment during the match, Tiafoe hit a drop shot which landed with so much backspin that it bounced back over the net to his side, winning the point.
Struff Defeats Gasquet
Home favorite Jan-Lennard Struff defeated French veteran Richard Gasquet to secure a spot in the semifinals of the Stuttgart Open. Struff won in straight sets, hitting 18 aces in the process. He will now face fourth-seeded Hubert Hurkacz in the semifinals. Gasquet had upset top-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas for his 600th ATP Tour win on Thursday but was unable to reproduce that form against Struff. This is Struff’s 11th semifinal as he bids for his first career win.
The Stuttgart Open saw some surprises and upsets in the quarterfinals. Fritz, the top-ranked American men’s player, was knocked out by Fucsovics in a shock defeat. Tiafoe advanced to the semifinals, becoming the highest-ranked player left in the draw. Struff delighted home fans by defeating Gasquet in straight sets to secure his spot in the semifinals. The semifinals promise to be exciting matches as the remaining players battle it out to reach the final.
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