<p>Four weeks ago, he needed a wheelchair to get off the courts at the French Open.</p>.<p>Three weeks ago, he underwent surgery to repair damage to his right knee.</p>.<p>But on Thursday, 23-year-old Taylor Fritz of the United States confounded all medical logic by reaching the third round at Wimbledon.</p>.<p>"I'm positive this is the quickest anyone has ever returned to actual professional competition from this surgery," said Fritz after seeing off compatriot Steve Johnson 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4.</p>.<p>Fritz, the world number 40, suffered the injury in a second round defeat at Roland Garros.</p>.<p>"I tried to stand up. I couldn't stand. I looked at my team, and I said, guys, I could be done for a long time. I heard it pop."</p>.<p>He was told that he was looking at a four to six week recovery but his surgeon in California had relatively good news.</p>.<p>There was no serious damage to the meniscus in the right knee.</p>.<p>"He told me before we went in that he just has to snip the part that I tore off, just snip it out, and then we're good, because the rest of the meniscus looks intact," explained Fritz who still requires a surgical support on the knee when he plays.</p>.<p>Coloured black, it's the only non-white clothing item on the courts at the famously strict All England Club.</p>.<p>"But he still warned me that if it's a little bit damaged, then I'm going to have to do a repair.</p>.<p>"First thing when I woke up, I was loopy from the anaesthesia, and the first thing I said was, Did he repair it or did he snip it? They said, He snipped it.</p>.<p>"Immediately from then on I was just thinking, like, Wimbledon, everything I can possibly do to be here."</p>.<p>Fritz has certainly given the knee a decent road test.</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/tennis/federer-oldest-man-in-wimbledon-third-round-for-46-years-1003858.html" target="_blank">Federer oldest man in Wimbledon third round for 46 years</a></strong></p>.<p>He has played nine sets of tennis in 26 hours to get to the last 32 where he will face German world number six Alexander Zverev.</p>.<p>"I have already done more than I think myself or anyone else expected," said Fritz.</p>.<p>"Nine sets in the last 26 hours, three weeks out of a knee surgery. It's all positives, no matter what happens.</p>.<p>"I'm just going to go out there and go for it. Maybe this crazy run can continue."</p>.<p>Third round opponent Zverev, a rival of Fritz since their junior days, is astonished by the American's recovery.</p>.<p>"I'm very surprised that he's actually playing here and I'm very surprised how well he's playing," said Zverev.</p>.<p>"I have to give credit to him for coming back this quickly."</p>.<p>Fritz won his only career title on grass in Eastbourne in 2019.</p>.<p>Zverev defeated him in five sets at Wimbledon in 2018.</p>.<p>"I think on a grass court he's extremely dangerous. He has a very fast serve, has big weapons," said 24-year-old Zverev.</p>
<p>Four weeks ago, he needed a wheelchair to get off the courts at the French Open.</p>.<p>Three weeks ago, he underwent surgery to repair damage to his right knee.</p>.<p>But on Thursday, 23-year-old Taylor Fritz of the United States confounded all medical logic by reaching the third round at Wimbledon.</p>.<p>"I'm positive this is the quickest anyone has ever returned to actual professional competition from this surgery," said Fritz after seeing off compatriot Steve Johnson 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4.</p>.<p>Fritz, the world number 40, suffered the injury in a second round defeat at Roland Garros.</p>.<p>"I tried to stand up. I couldn't stand. I looked at my team, and I said, guys, I could be done for a long time. I heard it pop."</p>.<p>He was told that he was looking at a four to six week recovery but his surgeon in California had relatively good news.</p>.<p>There was no serious damage to the meniscus in the right knee.</p>.<p>"He told me before we went in that he just has to snip the part that I tore off, just snip it out, and then we're good, because the rest of the meniscus looks intact," explained Fritz who still requires a surgical support on the knee when he plays.</p>.<p>Coloured black, it's the only non-white clothing item on the courts at the famously strict All England Club.</p>.<p>"But he still warned me that if it's a little bit damaged, then I'm going to have to do a repair.</p>.<p>"First thing when I woke up, I was loopy from the anaesthesia, and the first thing I said was, Did he repair it or did he snip it? They said, He snipped it.</p>.<p>"Immediately from then on I was just thinking, like, Wimbledon, everything I can possibly do to be here."</p>.<p>Fritz has certainly given the knee a decent road test.</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/tennis/federer-oldest-man-in-wimbledon-third-round-for-46-years-1003858.html" target="_blank">Federer oldest man in Wimbledon third round for 46 years</a></strong></p>.<p>He has played nine sets of tennis in 26 hours to get to the last 32 where he will face German world number six Alexander Zverev.</p>.<p>"I have already done more than I think myself or anyone else expected," said Fritz.</p>.<p>"Nine sets in the last 26 hours, three weeks out of a knee surgery. It's all positives, no matter what happens.</p>.<p>"I'm just going to go out there and go for it. Maybe this crazy run can continue."</p>.<p>Third round opponent Zverev, a rival of Fritz since their junior days, is astonished by the American's recovery.</p>.<p>"I'm very surprised that he's actually playing here and I'm very surprised how well he's playing," said Zverev.</p>.<p>"I have to give credit to him for coming back this quickly."</p>.<p>Fritz won his only career title on grass in Eastbourne in 2019.</p>.<p>Zverev defeated him in five sets at Wimbledon in 2018.</p>.<p>"I think on a grass court he's extremely dangerous. He has a very fast serve, has big weapons," said 24-year-old Zverev.</p>