Taylor Fritz Shocks Wimbledon with Epic Five-Set Comeback, Eyeing First Grand Slam Semifinal

World No. 5 Taylor Fritz is one win away from making Eastbourne his private kingdom. The 27-year-old American edged Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 to surge into Saturday’s Lexus Eastbourne Open final, his fourth championship match on the Sussex coast in the past five years. Already the tournament’s only three-time men’s singles champion (2019, 2022, 2024), Fritz can set an all-time record by lifting a fourth grass-court crown against compatriot Jenson Brooksby, the first lucky loser ever to reach the Eastbourne final. Fritz’s path has been anything but straightforward. Earlier in the week he outlasted #NextGenATP prodigy João Fonseca and fellow Californian Marcos Giron in back-to-back three-setters before darkness forced a rare two-day duel with Fonseca. Against Davidovich Fokina, Fritz recalibrated after a dip in the second set, firing 13 aces and winning 83 % of first-serve points in the decider to close out the Spaniard in 1 hour 39 minutes. The surge extends a sizzling grass-court swing for the U.S. No. 1. Twelve days ago Fritz stunned Alexander Zverev to capture the Stuttgart Open title, his ninth career trophy and first of 2025. Combined with his semifinal run at Queen’s last season and a Wimbledon quarter-final in 2024, the Southern Californian has quietly become one of the tour’s most reliable threats on turf. “Things always seem to click for me here,” Fritz said courtside. “The court speed, the seaside air—whatever it is, I feel a little invincible in Eastbourne.” A win on Saturday would also propel him within striking distance of a career-high ranking of world No. 4 ahead of Wimbledon. Standing in his way is Brooksby, the mercurial baseliner who began the week ranked No. 149 and outside the main draw. The 24-year-old rallied past Ugo Humbert 6-7 (7), 6-4, 6-4 to book a first all-American Eastbourne final since 2022. The pair are locked 1-1 in their head-to-head, with their last meeting coming on hard courts in Acapulco two years ago. Beyond the immediate stakes, Saturday’s clash doubles as a dress rehearsal for Wimbledon, where Fritz opens against French shot-maker Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard on Monday. His grass-court résumé, booming serve and newfound knack for navigating tight moments have many tipping the American to make a deep SW19 push. Key storylines fans are googling: • Taylor Fritz Eastbourne Open 2025 final time and live stream • How many times has Taylor Fritz won Eastbourne? • Taylor Fritz Wimbledon 2025 draw and potential quarter-final opponents • Jenson Brooksby lucky loser run statistics • Fritz vs Brooksby head-to-head results Whether Fritz cements his Eastbourne dynasty or Brooksby pens another Cinderella chapter, the showdown promises prime-time grass-court drama—and will shape Wimbledon’s narrative before a single ball is struck on Centre Court.