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Taylor Fritz and Alexander Zverev set for quarterfinals rematch at US Open after their epic Wimbledon showdown and rumored beef over American's influencer girlfriend, Morgan Riddle
They meet again.
Taylor Fritz and Alexander Zverev are booked for a US Open quarterfinal matchup on Tuesday in Queens, where the two will face off for the first time since the American's epic Round-of-16 victory over his German rival at Wimbledon in July.
It was after the five-set thriller in London that Zverev expressed displeasure over the noise coming from Fritz's box, where his girlfriend Morgan Riddle was seated.
Adding to the intrigue was a curious social media post from Riddle that many saw as a reference to 2020 domestic abuse claims against Zverev.
A social media influencer who has 17.2million likes on TikTok, Riddle has since deleted an Instagram video that included the caption: 'when your man wins 4 the girls.'
Zverev agreed to pay around $240,000 in a June settlement with his accuser, the mother of his child, but has not been convicted of any crime and maintains his innocence.
Taylor Fritz reacts after winning his singles round of 16 tennis match against Casper Ruud
Morgan Riddle, Taylor Fritz's girlfriend, was on hand for his win over Casper Ruud on Sunday
Alexander Zverev (GER) reacts after winning a point against Brandon Nakashima (USA)
Riddle has since claimed that she wasn't referencing Zverev, as so many of Fritz's fans believed.
'Regarding my stories yesterday... i took them down as soon as i realized the misunderstanding and how blown out of proportion they had become by the media,' she said in a subsequent video.
'They were not about anything that's happened off the tennis court & there's no bad blood between anyone.
'Super proud of T [Taylor] for the match yesterday, thank you to the crowd for the support & looking forward to tomorrow.'
Obviously that wasn't the only issue between Fritz, Riddle and Zverev at Wimbledon.
After the five-set match in London, the two players appeared to have a tense exchange at the net.
The German said afterwards that he was upset with some people in Fritz's box who 'may not be from the tennis world.'
Riddle was seated in Fritz's box that day.
Morgan Riddle celebrates from Taylor Fritz's box as he beats Alexander Zverev in London
Fritz (right) and Zverev (left) had a long discussion after the American's win at Wimbledon
'His team is extremely respectful. I think his coach, his physio, also his second coach, they're extremely respectful,' Zverev said.
'I think there's some other people that maybe are in the box that are not maybe from the tennis world, that are not maybe from particularly watching every single match. They were a bit over the top.'
Zverev and Fritz have since talked, as the American told reporters at Wimbledon.
'I think he was a little upset about my team members cheering for me when he was injured but he said: 'It's nothing to do with you. You're all good...' Whatever, it's all good.'
On Sunday, Fritz became the first American to reach the US Open quarters since 2007, when Andy Roddick did so.
Morgan Riddle, girlfriend of Taylor Fritz, is seen in Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens
'I think as you get better, your expectations go up,' Fritz, who is 0-4 in Slam quarterfinals (including last year's US Open), said afterwards. 'What makes you satisfied, what makes you happy as far as ranking and results, that also goes up.
'I think in the past I've been very, very excited, very happy to make quarterfinals at Slams. I think I'm at the point now where I'm still happy to make quarterfinals, but I wouldn't be happy with it ending here.'
There were certainly moments on Sunday when Fritz's self-belief was tested. Before reaching a second (and successful) set point to level the match, and with Louis Armstrong Stadium at its loudest, he fired into the net after a long rally and dropped his racket in frustration (he explained afterwards that he was unhappy with the ball taking a bad bounce off the line).
But rather than letting the opportunity slip, Fritz dusted himself off to earn his first break of the afternoon soon after and ultimately win the match in commanding fashion.
Zverev reached the final at the US Open in 2020, when he fell to Austria's Dominic Thiem, and reached the final at Rolland Garros earlier this year.