Respected tennis coach Brad Gilbert has publicly expressed his confusion regarding Taylor Fritz‘s decision to take a comfort break during his recent match against Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon. This decision came after Fritz had won a crucial second set, only to lose the match in four sets, which allowed Alcaraz to advance to the final.
Alcaraz defeated Fritz with a score of 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) on July 11, 2025. The victory puts Alcaraz in position to pursue a third consecutive Wimbledon title, following his wins in the previous two tournaments. He will face Jannik Sinner in the final, a matchup that has been highly anticipated since both players showcased exceptional performances earlier this year at the French Open.
Gilbert Critiques Fritz’s Strategy
During the match, after leveling the score at one set apiece, Fritz chose to step away briefly from the court. Gilbert, who has coached several high-profile players including Coco Gauff, Andy Roddick, and Andy Murray, took to social media to criticize this choice. He stated, “I’m old school. Don’t understand leaving the court after winning a set; usually, 95% of the time it’s the player losing the set now that takes the comfort break.” This comment reflects the traditional view in tennis that breaks are typically taken by players who are struggling.
Despite gaining momentum by winning the second set 7-5, Fritz lost the third set 6-3 and ultimately fell in a tightly contested fourth-set tiebreaker. His performance at Wimbledon follows a strong showing at the U.S. Open last year, where he also reached the final.
Alcaraz Reflects on the Challenge
After the match, Alcaraz acknowledged the difficulty of facing Fritz, stating, “It was a really difficult match as always when I have to play against Taylor. Even tougher with the conditions; it was really hot today.” Alcaraz, currently ranked World No. 2, admitted to feeling nervous going into the semi-final but expressed satisfaction with his performance. “I’m just really happy with everything that I’ve done today. I dealt with the nerves, playing here in a semi-final is not easy,” he added.
As Alcaraz prepares for the final against Sinner, both players are being heralded as the future of tennis, poised to carry the torch from legends like Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer. Yet, Dan Evans, a prominent British tennis player, cautioned against premature comparisons. He noted that Sinner and Alcaraz must accumulate significant titles before being considered on par with Djokovic’s record.
Evans stated, “Sinner and Alcaraz have to win a lot of Grand Slams before they get anywhere near the records Novak has set. They are doing great at the moment, but they need to keep this up and their bodies have got to stay fit for a long time before they can start thinking about winning the number of Slams Novak has won.” This sentiment underscores the challenge that lies ahead for the emerging stars of tennis.
As the tennis world eagerly anticipates the final clash between Alcaraz and Sinner, the focus will not only be on their skills but also on the legacy they aim to build in the sport.
