Alexander Zverev did not mince his words after Taylor Fritz defeated him at the Stuttgart Open final today.
In a candid moment, Zverev expressed his frustration: “Taylor, I’m f**king tired of you. I don’t wanna see you in the next 2 or 3 years. Don’t come to Germany anymore.”.
The Stuttgart final saw Fritz clinch his first title of the year with a 6–3, 7–6(0) victory over the top-seeded Zverev.
The match was briefly interrupted by rain after the first set, but Fritz maintained his composure to secure the title. This victory marks his fourth ATP Tour title on grass and ninth overall. After the win, Fritz said: “It was not so great a clay season, so to come here and start the grass season off perfectly, I am super happy to get the title and to do it here,”.
Fritz’s win in Stuttgart not only gave him his first title of 2025 but also extended his lead in their head-to-head battles to 8-5. More tellingly, Fritz has now won the last five meetings against Zverev, a streak that highlights a significant shift in momentum.
Their rivalry has been a rollercoaster over the years, but Fritz has clearly taken control recently. From the Grand Slam stage at the US Open and Wimbledon last year to ATP events like the Masters Cup and now Stuttgart, Fritz’s game seems to have Zverev’s number.
Today’s Stuttgart final was another display of Fritz’s growing dominance on grass. He stayed composed throughout, closing out the second set with a flawless tiebreak, even after a rain delay interrupted play.
This victory marks Fritz’s fourth ATP grass-court title, placing him in an exclusive club of active players with four or more grass titles. He now joins Matteo Berrettini and Nicolas Mahut, both renowned for their prowess on grass courts, ranking just behind Novak Djokovic, who leads with eight grass-court titles.
For Zverev, this loss is a tough pill to swallow. Ranked No. 3 to Fritz’s No. 7, he’s struggled to overcome his American rival lately. The frustration in his post-match comments revealed just how much Fritz’s recent run has gotten under his skin.
Looking ahead, Fritz will head to the Queen’s Club Championships next week, aiming to continue his strong grass season and build momentum heading into Wimbledon.
Zverev, meanwhile, will stay in Germany to play in Halle next week, seeking to sharpen his game and reclaim momentum on grass ahead of Wimbledon.
With the ultimate grass Grand Slam fast approaching, this rivalry promises plenty more fireworks. Fritz will enter the tournament brimming with confidence, while Zverev will be eager to stop the streak and reassert himself as a top contender.