"Certainly going the other direction": Jim Courier shares reason behind back Taylor Fritz for upset win over Carlos Alcaraz

Former world number one Jim Courier has backed his fellow countryman Taylor Fritz in the upcoming semifinal of Wimbledon 2025. The 27-year-old cemented his spot in the last-four of the third Grand Slam of the year after beating Russia’s Karen Khachanov with a score of 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6.

That win will set up Fritz’s mouthwatering clash against defending champion Alcaraz, who registered his spot in the last-four after beating Britain’s Cameron Norrie in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 6-3, 6-3. This will be the third meeting between the two players. In the previous two meetings, Alcaraz had a clear edge as he won on both occasions.

Despite all of that, Courier backed Fritz to beat Alcaraz in the clash on Friday. While talking to Tennis Channel, Courier ended up giving an interesting reason for backing Fritz. “[I would back] Taylor Fritz,” said Courier. “I am going against the grain. Certainly going the other direction. But I am going to give you all you gamblers out there some hope if you want to put some big money on Taylor Fritz. I am just trying to help the gamblers.”

Fritz, while talking to the media after his semifinal win, also casted hopes of having a good outing against the five-time Grand Slam winner. Fritz stated that he believes he has the best chance of beating players like Alcaraz on a grass court, where he has won five out of his 10 career titles.

“Well, if it’s him [Alcaraz], I’m happy,” said Fritz on Wednesday. “I’m happy that we’re not playing at the French Open on clay with the French Open balls, ’cause that would be an absolute nightmare [smiling]. Yeah, I think grass is very much so an equaliser. It can be an equaliser. So trust in how I’m playing. I truly know the way that I played the first two sets today, there’s not much any opponent on the other side can do. Yeah, I mean, I would say so. I’ve made obviously a semi-final now, two other quarter-finals at Wimbledon. I think it speaks a lot that half of my titles are on grass, given that grass is such a short part of the year compared to everything else. Yeah, I mean, I think it would be dumb of me to say that grass isn’t my best surface.”