But the fireworks weren’t just reserved for the match. A lengthy handshake and prolonged discussion between the two followed, where Zverev appeared to take issue with some members of Fritz’s player box who were a bit too vocal in their support of the No. 13 seed. Repeatedly saying he took no issue with Fritz personally, nor his coaches, Zverev nonetheless said that others in the American’s player box “not maybe from the tennis world,” … “were a bit over the top.”
“He came from two sets to love down. Respect,” Zverev added. “I was on one leg today. He is playing great. … But also I do know that the match was not high level. I mean, it wasn’t a particularly great tennis match. It was, like, there wasn’t really long rallies because I couldn’t play long rallies. There wasn’t really physicality.
“So … credit to him that he came back, but it wasn’t a great tennis match, you know?”
But the post-match fireworks didn’t stop there. Morgan Riddle, Fritz’s longtime girlfriend, saying that Frtiz’s win was “for the girls,” perhaps a not-so-thinly-veiled reference to the pair of domestic abuse allegations brought by Zverev’s ex-partners.
Fritz went on to also defeat Zverev at the US Open, Laver Cup, and the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals. Will more sparks fly between these rivals in 2025?
