Fritz reaches Wimbledon quarterfinals after Thompson retires - ESPN

American Taylor Fritz progressed to the Wimbledon quarterfinals Sunday for a second consecutive year after Jordan Thompson retired due to injury with the No. 5 seed leading 6-1, 3-0.

With Fritz advancing, it's the fifth consecutive major that at least one American man has made the quarterfinals — the longest streak for the U.S. men since a run of six straight from the 2002 US Open to 2004 Australian Open.

«Not the way I wanted to go through, I was excited to play Jordan today, I was excited to play good tennis,» Fritz said. «It's sad… he's been battling out here, playing five-setters, I respect him for coming out… I feel bad for him and I hope he gets better.»

Thompson, who arrived at the All England Club dealing with a back issue, called for a medical timeout midway through the second set due to an apparent right thigh injury, and after three more points decided to call it a day. The Australian has had a couple retirements at majors before, most recently the 2023 US Open against Botic Van De Zandschulp, due to a leg injury. He was also forced to exit his 2021 Australian Open match against Casper Ruud with a shoulder injury.

Fritz and Ben Shelton, who advanced to the round of 16 with his straight-sets win Saturday, are the only Americans remaining in the men's singles draw. Looking ahead, only two American men in the past 15 years have reached the Wimbledon semifinals: Sam Querrey in 2017 and John Isner in 2018.

Fritz, the US Open runner-up last year, is 12-1 on grass this season, having won titles at Stuttgart and Eastbourne. His 12 tour-level grass match wins are the most by any American man in a season since Pete Sampras won 12 in 1999 at Queen's Club and Wimbledon.

Fritz next faces Russian 17th seed Karen Khachanov,