Not like this…! That was the reaction echoing through Centre Court as Taylor Fritz’s opponent walked toward the net, head down, shoulders heavy. After everything he’d been through this past week at Wimbledon 2025, this wasn’t how his story was supposed to end. Fans who had watched him fight through punishing battles were stunned. Why now? Why like this?

The signs had been there but few wanted to believe them. Jordan Thompson had come into the tournament carrying a back injury so serious he nearly pulled out before it began. But he pushed forward, grinding through two exhausting five-setters and 14 sets total just to reach the fourth round. He was chasing something big: his first-ever Grand Slam quarter-final. And for 41 minutes on Centre Court, he gave it a shot. But then came the limp… the pain… the quiet signals that something was off. For the last 20 minutes, every step looked like agony.

Trailing 6–1, 3–0 to a red-hot Taylor Fritz, Thompson finally had to stop. A right thigh injury was now added to his back trouble, and enough was enough. Fritz moves on to face Karen Khachanov in the quarters but for many, the match won’t be remembered for who won. It’ll be remembered for the fight Thompson showed, the pain he endured, and the raw heartbreak of seeing a dream cut short not by defeat but by the limits of the human body. Hence, Jordan Thompson retired. But in doing so, Taylor Fritz ‘s dream is much more possible now.

Just recently, Taylor Fritz has made it clear that his ultimate goal is to become the first American man to win Wimbledon since Pete Sampras in 2000. At 27 and seeded fifth at SW19, that long-standing “American Dream” is what drives him each time he steps on Centre Court. In a recent on-court interview, Fritz captured the moment best when he said, “Playing Centre Court is the stuff you dream of as a kid.” But can he really make America proud?

Taylor Fritz marches on as Wimbledon dream stays alive for U.S. Tennis

Taylor Fritz is through to the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the second straight year, carrying the hopes of American men’s tennis on his shoulders. With this win, the U.S. continues its resurgence, marking five consecutive majors with at least one American man reaching the last eight, the longest such streak in over two decades. Fritz, however, advanced under unfortunate circumstances after opponent Jordan Thompson retired hurt early in the match. “Not the way I wanted to go through,” Fritz admitted. “I feel bad for him and I hope he gets better.”

The 27-year-old is joined by Ben Shelton as the last two Americans left in the men’s singles draw. Both are chasing rare territory; only Sam Querrey and John Isner have reached the Wimbledon semifinals for the U.S. in the last 15 years. But Fritz is looking like a man on a mission. With a 12-1 record on grass this season and titles in Stuttgart and Eastbourne, he’s matching numbers not seen since Pete Sampras’ prime. His form, timing, and confidence could be peaking just when history is calling.

Next, Taylor Fritz faces Russia’s Karen Khachanov, who stormed past Kamil Majchrzak in straight sets. “Today was a really great performance,” Khachanov said after tallying 44 winners. A proven Slam contender, the Russian has reached the semifinals at both the US and Australian Opens and previously made the quarters here in 2021. For Fritz, this next match could be a defining chapter in his pursuit of a Wimbledon title and the revival of the American dream on grass.