Taylor Fritz’s run at Wimbledon ended in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, as the sixth-seeded American was defeated by Alexander Zverev with a straight-sets loss of 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 on No. 1 Court in London. The match was notably affected by a resurgence of knee tendinitis that Fritz experienced early in the contest.

Fritz, the last American man remaining in the singles draw, reported that the pain in his right knee flared up about three games into the match, catching him by surprise. “I just didn’t expect it at all,” Fritz said, describing a moment of panic as he contemplated how to continue amid the discomfort. Though he had felt some minor pain toward the end of his fourth-round triumph over Alexander Bublik, he had no indication before the quarterfinal that the injury would hamper him so quickly.

Despite taking a medical timeout during the second set to receive treatment from a physiotherapist, Fritz was unable to overcome both the physical challenge and Zverev’s strong performance. The German, who is the reigning French Open champion, served effectively throughout the match and claimed victory, ending a seven-match losing streak against Fritz.

“He’s beaten me for two years straight,” Zverev said, acknowledging his recent dominance over the American. “I played a fantastic match.” Fritz, meanwhile, emphasized that Zverev’s serving made him a difficult opponent regardless of the knee issues. He earned four break point opportunities but was unable to convert any.

Reflecting on the loss, Fritz noted that the injury compromised his focus. “I felt like just because I was thinking about the knee, my focus was kind of all over the place,” he said, lamenting that he did not get a fair chance to fully engage in the match.

Fritz’s exit marks the end of the American men’s singles presence at Wimbledon this year. He reached the U.S. Open final earlier this season after defeating Zverev in the quarterfinals, highlighting the competitive rivalry between the two players.