"GOAT of choking", "Alexander Zverev can't handle pressure" - Fans react to German's Wimbledon 4R loss to Taylor Fritz from winning position

Yet again, Alexander Zverev threw away a seemingly insurmountable lead as he tasted defeat at the hands of Taylor Fritz in the fourth round of the ongoing 2024 Wimbledon Championships. Zverev's 6-4, 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-7(3), 3-6 loss to Fritz on Monday, July 8, led to the German being ridiculed by tennis fans who have grown used to him putting himself in winning positions only to then go on and squander the leads.

Zverev came into his match against Fritz in imperious form, carrying on just as he left off at the 2024 French Open, where he lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the final after leading the Spaniard two-sets-to-one. The World No. 4 had not dropped a set prior to his fourth-round encounter against the 2022 BNP Paribas Open winner, with his serve looking particularly lethal.

Things seemed to be going in Zverev's favor once again as he won the first two sets against Fritz. However, a double fault from the German, with the third set finely poised at 4-4, proved decisive, allowing Fritz to go on and clinch the set. The American didn't look back, as he mounted a stirring comeback, which featured a staggering 67 winners and 15 aces.

After Zverev's loss, fans on X (formerly Twitter) had a field day ridiculing the German. Some suggested that the German losing from winning positions has become something of an inevitability.

"Death. Taxes. Zverev losing matches from winning positions," a fan wrote.

"Alexander Zverev has just lost his 50 billionth Grand Slam match from two sets up," wrote another fan.

"It is so so good being a Zverev hater. This d**khead delivers for you in every big moment without fail," another fan weighed in.

Another set of fans opined that the World No. 4 is unable to perform at his best in the most high-pressure moments. These fans cited his losses at the 2020 US Open final (vs Dominic Thiem), 2024 Australian Open semifinal (vs Daniil Medvedev), and 2024 French Open final (vs Alcaraz), all of which saw Zverev establishing seemingly insurmountable leads before eventually losing.

"Congratulations on the career slam Alexander Zverev. Generational choker," wrote a fan.

"GOAT of choking," another fan chimed in.

"He can't handle pressure," yet another fan opined.

Alexander Zverev's Wimbledon woes continue; German fails to pass fourth-round test for the third time

Alexander Zverev

Since 2017, Zverev has cemented his position as one of the top men's tennis players. He was a whisker away from being the top-ranked ATP player in 2022 before his tragic injury at the French Open during his semifinal clash against Rafael Nadal. Additionally, he has won two year-end Nitto ATP Finals and 20 more ATP Tour-level titles.

However, Grand Slam success continues to prove elusive for the German, particularly at Wimbledon. While Zverev has reached at least the semifinals at all the other Majors, at SW19, the farthest he has gone so far remains the fourth round. After his first-round win over Roberto Carballes Baena this time around, the former World No. 2 had even expressed his feeling of being one of the favorites for the Wimbledon men's singles title.

Alexander Zverev's two previous fourth-round finishes at the prestigious grasscourt Major came in 2017 and 2021 when he lost to Milos Raonic and Felix Auger-Aliassime, respectively.