For the first time in his career, Alexander Zverev will play in a Wimbledon quarterfinal.
The German, enjoying a stellar 2026 season on the ATP Tour, defeated Jiri Lehecka on Tuesday to book his place in the last eight.
Their match had started on Monday evening, but got suspended after Zverev went two sets up due to the 11 pm curfew at Wimbledon.
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Lehecka came back the next day and took the third set, but the world number three clinched a fourth-set tiebreak to win 6-4, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6.
Zverev had never made it past the fourth round at the All England Club prior to this year’s edition of the Championships, but is playing with newfound confidence after his French Open triumph.
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“Yeah, so, I mean, the tournament was I think quite fine. Today’s match unfortunately went the other way that I wanted.
“I think it was a great experience for me to play on Centre Court. Yeah, very happy with the reaction after the curfew. I think that was something that happened to me for the first time in my career.
“Yeah, totally different conditions today. Much more easier for me to play. I think we saw that, that also for me was quite easier to use my game. Bounces were a bit higher. Was easier for me to attack.
“But yeah, too late for me to react. Unfortunately first two sets didn’t go my way.
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“We saw that a player like Sascha, who is very confident, he’s playing in my opinion his best grass court tennis right now that he ever played.
“To lose first two sets against a player like him is just not good enough if you’re aiming to win.”
Alexander Zverev’s record against Taylor Fritz ahead of clash
Zverev will take on Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinals, whom he has really struggled against in the past few seasons.
Fritz is on a 10-match winning streak against Zverev at tour-level competitions, dating back to the 2024 Wimbledon Championships.
There, Fritz emerged victorious in a tough five-setter, and since then, he has not lost a match in their head-to-head, which the American leads 10-5.
On grass, Fritz leads 3-2, and has won each of their previous three meetings on the surface.
Zverev is looking to reach his first Wimbledon semifinal, while Fritz is seeking a second consecutive trip to the final four.
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