US Open runner-up Taylor Fritz moved into the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the third time in four years on Sunday, advancing when his injured opponent, Jordan Thompson, quit while trailing 6-1, 3-0 after 41 minutes.
The unseeded Thompson’s movement and power clearly were compromised. The Australian entered the match with back and leg issues and left the court for a medical timeout in the second set, then stopped after trying to play for three more points.
“Just got significantly worse today," said Thompson, who was competing in singles and doubles at Wimbledon. “Just played a lot of tennis on a body that shouldn't have been, and it just took its toll.”
For the No. 5-seeded Fritz, it was a shorter workday after playing a pair of five-setters and one four-setter earlier in the tournament.
“It’s obviously not the way that I want to go through,” Fritz said. “It’s just sad. ... Respect to him for coming out. His body’s not right.”
Now the American will meet No. 17 seed Karen Khachanov of Russia on Tuesday for a berth in the semifinals — a round neither has reached at the All England Club.
Khachanov has been a Grand Slam semifinalist twice, at the US Open in 2022 and the Australian Open in 2023. Fritz made it that far at a major for the first time when he got to the final at Flushing Meadows in September before losing to No. 1 Jannik Sinner.
Khachanov beat Kamil Majchrzak 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 Sunday and is 2-0 against Fritz, although their most recent meeting was in 2020.
“We practice all the time, so we’re pretty familiar with each other’s games,” Fritz said. “But I think I improved a ton and have become a much, much better player since the last time we played.”
