Taylor Fritz rages as Wimbledon referee suspends match 40 MINUTES before cut-off point to boos from crowd
Fritz had all the momentum in what had been a topsy-turvy encounter
DEEP CUT Taylor Fritz rages as Wimbledon referee suspends match 40 MINUTES before cut-off point to boos from crowd
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TAYLOR FRITZ was left fuming as his match with Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard was suspended 40 minutes BEFORE Wimbledon's 11pm curfew.
Due to local council rules, play at SW19 cannot continue beyond 11pm.
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Taylor Fritz was told that play would have to be suspended
Credit: Getty
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The American was fuming with the decision
Credit: Getty
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Fritz even appeared to join in as fans booed the decision
Credit: Getty
With Fritz having come back from the brink to level the match at two sets apiece, the American was desperate to continue.
But following a dramatic end to the fourth set, tournament officials decided to postpone the conclusion of the match to tomorrow, with the score level at 6-7 6-7 6-4 7-6.
Fritz held his hands wide in frustration at the decision, but ultimately couldn't change the tournament official's mind.
As the decision was announced by the chair umpire, boos rained down from fans still in their seats on No1 Court, with Fritz even appearing to join in.
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Mpetshi Perricard, meanwhile, left the court without any complaints.
Fritz had fallen behind 7-6 7-6 despite hitting 33 winners and just five unforced errors.
Frenchman Mpetshi Perricard served incredibly, and even set a new record for the fastest Wimbledon serve EVER at 153mph.
Fritz finally broke his opponent during the third set before eventually taking it 6-4.
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Fritz was pumped after taking the fourth set
Credit: AP
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Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard served unbelievably on No1 Court
Credit: Getty
The fourth subsequently meandered towards another tiebreak, and the match looked like it was Mpetshi Perricard's to lose when he led 5-1 in the tiebreak.
But Fritz rallied back incredibly, reeling off five points in a row to lead 6-5, before eventually taking it 8-6.
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The fifth seed roared in delight, but his excitement was soon punctured by the decision to suspend play.
Over on Centre Court, Alexander Zverev's match against Arthur Rinderknech continued for more than 30 minutes after the Fritz-Mpetshi Perricard contest had been suspended, with the pair being taken off court at 10:54pm after the German levelled the match 6-7 7-6.
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