"All Alexander Zverev did was take away from Taylor Fritz's performance" - Fans ridicule German's "angry" take after US Open QF exit

Alexander Zverev's assessment of his quarterfinal loss to Taylor Fritz at the 2024 US Open has led to fans ridiculing the German. Zverev, a former runner-up at Flushing Meadows, was beaten by Fritz, who reached his maiden Grand Slam semifinal.

The German was effective on his first serve, but that was pretty much all he had up his sleeve against his 12th-seeded opponent. The 2024 French Open finalist's second serve was once again found wanting, and he also gave away 13 break points, two of which, Fritz converted.

Most surprisingly, Alexander Zverev's two-handed backhand, widely considered as one of his strengths, went missing. The German missed several backhands that he would, on his best days, convert with ease.

Meanwhile, Fritz kept things simple, and used variety whenever possible to keep Alexander Zverev guessing about the American's next move. Despite his usual inconsistencies at the net, the World No. 12 was not afraid to come forward, and his risks eventually paid off, securing a 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(3) win for him.

At a post-match press conference, Zverev rued the execution of his two-handed backhand and said that Fritz deserved the win. The German also voiced the extent of his anger at the disappointing result.

"My backhand, I don't remember since being on tour hitting my backhand this badly. I just don't. I mean, I was missing shots which were in the middle of the court with no pace, and bottom of the net. Terrible. Just absolutely terrible by me," Zverev said about his backhand.

"He (Fritz) absolutely deserved to win today. I'm not taking anything away from him. He played quite a good match. I did nothing to deserve to win," Zverev added.

"Yeah, by far (the most frustrated after a match in a long time) . The most angry, also, I think, in a long time," Zverev concluded.

Several fans though, were not at all appreciative of Alexander Zverev's take. Some of them suggested that the German's game has become one-dimensional, and it makes him likely to lose to Grand Slam champions Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev at future Slams, especially considering the fact that he has now lost to Fritz in back-to-back Majors.

"If he can’t beat Fritz in a US open QFs, then how is he going to beat Alcaraz, Medvedev, Sinner etc? The path to the Final is as WIIIIIDE open as it will ever be for him," wrote a fan.

"Whatever dude. We’ve all seen this movie before. He’s transformed into a serve bot. That’s all he has. His backhand is not scaring the top guys. When he gets into the business end of Slams he needs to grow a set and play big & bold. A big serve alone will not win him a Slam," commented another fan.

"Returning was okay? He didnt return 52% of fritz first serves and won only 9% of fritzs 1st serves in the 4th set this guys is delusional, The only thing that kept him in the match was his serve," another chimed in.

There were others who felt Zverev did not give enough credit to Fritz for his US Open quarterfinal performance, even though the German did say that the American was the worthy winner.

"He didn’t play badly. He’s a sore loser and felt he should’ve beat Taylor who played brilliantly," wrote one fan.

"He lost bc Fritz was really good. All he did here was take away from his opponent's great performance. That's what a rat does," another weighed in.

Some fans also ridiculed Alexander Zverev feeling at his angriest in a long time, and brought up the domestic abuse allegations against the German. The World No. 1 was embroiled in a legal battle over them amid his French Open campaign earlier this year.

"Women on the streets of New York need to be taking shelter with that last line," a fan opined.

"His wife reading that last sentence," added another fan.

Zverev has had a relatively successful year as far as the Grand Slams are concerned, but a Major still eludes him.

Alexander Zverev fails to break Grand Slam duck in 2024; French Open final saw German concede lead similar to US Open 2020 collapse

Alexander Zverev (Source: Getty)

Alexander Zverev was once regarded as a player who would win at least one Grand Slam title if not more. However, it seems as if the former junior World No. 1's persistent weaknesses are getting in the way of his ambitions. 27 and yet to snap his losing streak in big matches at Majors, it feels as if time is fast running out for the German to break his Grand Slam duck.

The former World No. 2 though, looked well on his way towards doing just that at this year's French Open. Against Carlos Alcaraz in the Roland Garros final, the German had opened up a two-sets-to-one lead over the Spaniard. However, Alcaraz eventually turned the tables on Alexander Zverev and won 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2.

It was reminiscent of the World No. 4's loss to Dominic Thiem in the 2020 US Open final, where he had raced to a two-set lead but still conceded the title to the Austrian with a 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-7(6) loss.