Taylor Fritz has built a reputation as a true magician when the odds are stacked against him. Think back to Wimbledon 2024, a classic Fritz comeback story, where he snatched victory from Alexander Zverev’s grasp after being down two sets. Or his sheer grit win against Federico Coria at the French Open the same year. And who could forget his maiden Grand Slam final appearance at the US Open? Fritz has a knack for rising to the occasion when the pressure is on. But even for a player known for his resilience, what happened in Miami this time around left him shaking his head in disbelief at his own brilliance.

On Thursday, Fritz defied the odds in a dramatic Miami Open quarterfinal against Matteo Berrettini. The third seed overcame the Italian 7-5, 6-7(7), 7-5 in a gripping two-hour, 44-minute battle. Fritz had been on the brink of a straight-sets win, leading 6/3 in the second-set tiebreak, but Berrettini fought back to force a decider. Despite letting six match points slip away, Fritz refused to crumble under pressure.

The highlight of the match came during the second set’s ninth game when Fritz reacted with cat-like reflexes to return Berrettini’s blistering 127 MPH serve. Leaning over, he unleashed a stunning backhand that left everyone breathless. It was a blink-and-you-miss-it moment. Even Fritz couldn’t believe it, responding to Tennis TV’s post of the shot with: “Yeah, this one was crazy 😂.”

Fritz stayed composed despite missing chances and kept his focus. “There’s two options: get frustrated, lose, and then be even more frustrated about all the chances I blew—or regroup and get the win,” he said after the match. “Now I can sleep tonight and not be so mad at the chances I blew.” In the final set, Taylor broke Berrettini at 5-5 after saving two breakpoints earlier.

His aggressive returns paid off as he won 62% of second-serve return points and extended his flawless record against Berrettini to 5-0. “I feel like that’s how I’ve always returned his serve. I feel like he’s got such a big serve anyways, it’s pretty tough to take a full swing and hit it, even when you stand back. That also gives him time to run around and find the forehand,” said Fritz, who hammered 16 aces to Berrettini’s 17.

“I’ve always liked to stand in, look to chip those forehands and hopefully it gets on him quickly, especially when I get a hold of a backhand, I feel like I can really crush it.” With this gutsy win, Fritz advanced to his first Miami Open semi-final and sixth ATP Masters 1000 semi-final overall. Can he go further? His coach might just have the answer!

Taylor Fritz’s coach shares his main goal to improve his game

Taylor Fritz had a rocky start to 2025, reaching just one quarter-final in his first four tournaments. At the Australian Open, he fell to Gael Monfils in the third round. Back in the U.S., Fritz managed only single-match wins at Delray Beach and the Dallas Open. His Indian Wells campaign ended in the fourth round, where eventual champion Jack Draper defeated him 7-5, 6-4. Despite early struggles, Fritz now finds himself in peak form at the Miami Open, preparing for a quarter-final clash against Matteo Berrettini.

On that note, Fritz’s coach, Michael Russell, has set ambitious goals for his player, including winning a Grand Slam title. “The long-term result goals, I’d love to see him win a Grand Slam title; that would be a momentous occasion,” Russell said to the Tennis Channel. But there are a few areas of improvement that Fritz needs to conquer.

Reflecting on Fritz’s 2024 US Open final loss to Jannik Sinner, Russell emphasized: “He needs to come to the net more, own the transition and the middle of the court. He’s done better but still needs to take it more offensively to his opponent.” However, he has shown improvement in Miami.

Fritz powered his way into the Miami Open quarterfinals with a strong showing across his matches. He began his campaign by defeating Lorenzo Sonego in straight sets and followed it up with a commanding win over Denis Shapovalov, avenging his earlier losses to the Canadian. In the fourth round, Fritz sealed his spot in the last eight with a backhand winner against Adam Walton, showcasing his sharp form and confidence. He has only dropped one set in Miami so far. Not to mention, his solid serve and return game have been key to his success.

Now heading into his first Miami Open semi-final, Fritz will face Czech Jakub Mensik, who is playing his maiden semi-final at this level. Will he reach his third ATP Masters 1000 final? Share your thoughts in the comments below!