Taylor Fritz Reveals Why He Left Fuming at Referee’s Wimbledon Curfew Decision During Tough Match Against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard

Taylor Fritz came from two sets down to overcome Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard and book a spot in the second round.

Taylor Fritz Reveals Why He Left Fuming at Referee’s Wimbledon Curfew Decision During Tough Match Against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, Taylor Fritz (Image via X/Roland Garros)

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Taylor Fritz was not ready to halt his opening-round Wimbledon match on Monday and resume it on Tuesday. Against him was big serving Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, who in the first game, smashed a serve at 153 mph, the fastest in the history of the tournament.

The American thought he would become the fifth top 10 player in the men’s side to suffer the first-round exit when he lost the first two sets. But with concerted efforts, he forced a comeback, winning the next two sets before, around 10:20 p.m. local time the match was halted.

I was mentally in the headspace of like, we are finishing this match tonight. They told us before the match, ‘Hey, are you good to play until 11? We’re gonna stop at 11.’ So when I’m looking at the clock at the end of the fourth set I was thinking, ‘Oh it’s 10, there’s no way they’re stop us, we’re for sure playing this fifth set’. The idea of stopping wasn’t even in my mind.

Taylor Fritz said at the press conference

They still had about 45 minutes to finish the game before the 11 p.m. curfew. What irritated the 27-year-old the most was that the referee kept communicating with him about whether he wanted to continue playing despite the fact that the decision was made.

I get it we both have to agree and if we don’t then the referee makes a decision. What I didn’t understand was why the referee, after he said what his decision was…he kept asking me. I think he just wanted me to like agree with them. But I said I don’t know why you keep asking me because I want to play. Stop asking me.

Taylor Fritz added

When the match resumed on Tuesday, Fritz continued his winning ways and secured a berth in the second round with a 6-7(8), 6-7(10), 6-4, 7-6(6), 6-4 scoreline. The last set ended in 37 minutes, which means had they played on Monday night, they could’ve finished it before 11.

Fritz took a 1-0 lead in the head-to-head meeting against the Frenchman. The 21-year-old produced his best performance at Wimbledon when he reached the last 16 last year as a qualifier, losing to Lorenzo Musetti in four sets.

It was his best performance in a Major as in the rest of the Grand Slam events, he has never progressed beyond the second round. Perricard has lifted two singles titles in his career but has not yet won one this season.

Taylor Fritz to face Gabriel Diallo in the second round

Taylor Fritz will also be meeting Gabriel Diallo for the first time in his career. The Canadian ace moved past Germany’s Daniel Altmaier to schedule the second-round clash with Fritz.

Taylor Fritz
Taylor Fritz (Image via X/Wimbledon)

Diallo reached the second round of Wimbledon for the first time. Before this season, he had never played the main draw here. He produced his best in Majors when he advanced to the third round of the 2024 US Open.

Fritz was the quarterfinalist at Wimbledon in 2022 and 2024. Last year, Lorenzo Musetti ended his campaign in the quarterfinal.

Fritz has reached only one Grand Slam final- at the 2024 US Open, which he lost to World No.1 Jannik Sinner, whom he could in the Wimbledon final. But before that, Fritz could schedule a semifinal clash with two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.

Before Wimbledon, Fritz lifted two titles on grass. He beat World No.3 Alexander Zverev at the Stuttgart Open, lost in the opening round of the Queen’s Club Championships, and captured his third Eastbourne International trophy by beating compatriot Jenson Brooksby. He is searching for his sixth grass-court title at Wimbledon.

Also read: Grigor Dimitrov Makes Hilarious Ibiza Comment on Carlos Alcaraz After Advancing at Wimbledon