By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, October 23, 2026
Photo credit: Simon Bruty/USTA
Taylor Fritz can be a chronic nit-picker when it comes to the state of his game.
Self-described perfectionist Fritz continues playing near pristine tennis in Lyon.
Fritz served 76 percent powering past Daniel Altmaier 7-6(5), 6-2 into his 44th Tour-level semifinal in Lyon today.
It is Fritz’s fifth semifinal of the season—the fifth time in the last six years he’s reached at least five semifinals in a season.
Commanding on serve, Fritz won 37 of 42 first-serve points and did not face a break point defeating Altmaier for the first time.
“Honestly, I think this whole week I’ve been pretty happy about everything,” Fritz said. “In practice as well, I’ve been feeling very confident about all parts of my game.
“I’m serving really well and I think I’m hitting the ball really well from both sides.”
The second-seeded Fritz is hunting his 12th career title—and first championship since he won Washington, DC last August.
Fritz faces friendly fire in an all-American semifinal vs. good friend Tommy Paul.
“It’s pretty even,” Fritz said of his 3-3 Tour-level record vs. Paul. “We’ve definitely gone back and forth over the years in wins and losses. It’s never easy. He’s one of my best friends. It’s never easy.”
Closing a marathon encounter with a 36-stroke rally, a relentless Paul left Corentin Moutet smashing his racquet in the backcourt.
Another day’s work for newlywed Paul in Lyon.
The American advanced to the semifinals to face second-seeded Fritz in Friday’s first quarterfinal in Lyon, taking out the wildly talented Frenchman 6-4, 3-6, 6-6 in two hours and 45 minutes. Paul came to the net 59 times and won 38 of those points to improve to 3-0 against Moutet.
“I mean, you kind of never know what to expect. He can pull out a shot from anywhere. He can pretty much do everything on the tennis court,” Paul, sporting a new bushy beard, said. “And he’s a great competitor. He always plays me close, always have insane points. So I knew I was in for a battle.”
Paul notched his 44th win of the season against 19 losses and reached his 24th career semifinal.
How did he manage to outlast the trickiest of competitors, with the faithful in Lyon cheering his every move?
“I’m not really sure,” he said with a smile. “I knew I had to compete well today, so I just tried to put it all on the line there in the third and do my best to compete as good as I could.”
Altmaier saved couple of break points and punctuated a hard-fought hold with firm “Allez!” after leveling for 3-All.
Relaxed on serve, Fritz stamped a two-ace hold for 5-4.
When Fritz snapped a forehand return into the top of the tape, Altmaier held at 30 to force the first-set tie break.
In a gritty defensive effort, Fritz made several fine digs then drilled a forehand pass down the line, too hot to handle, for a 3-2 tie break lead. Two points later, Altmaier missed his favored backhand down the line as Fritz gained the mini break and 4-3 lead. Fritz hooked a forehand into the corner for three set points.
Altmaier saved two set points, throwing down a smash to erase the second. Chased off the doubles alley by a biting return, Fritz blasted a clean backhand down the line winner sealing a one-set lead with a bang.
Swinging more freely in the second set, Fritz broke twice in a row for a 5-2 lead. Fritz served out a one hour, 25 minutes.
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