American Taylor Fritz, who's been dating influencer Morgan Riddle since 2020, beat German opponent Alexander Zverev in a five-set epic on Monday to reach the quarter-finals of Wimbledon
Morgan Riddle, the girlfriend of Wimbledon star Taylor Fritz, made headlines on Monday with a pair of deleted social media posts during her partner's epic victory over Alexander Zverev.
Fritz emphatically came from two sets down to beat his German opponent 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 6-3 on Centre Court. The No.13 seed booked his place in the men's singles quarter-finals at the expense of Zverev. When the pair came together to shake hands after match point, a long discussion was held in which Zverev explained that Fritz's family and fans had irked him during the hard-fought contest.
"His team is extremely respectful. I think his coach, his physio, also his second coach, they're extremely respectful," Zverev, who entered Wimbledon as the No.4 seed, told a press conference. "I think there's some other people that maybe are in the box that are not maybe from the tennis world, that are not maybe particularly watching every single match.
"They were a bit over the top."
Zverev appeared to be referencing Riddle, the social media influencer who was sitting in the Centre Court stands supporting Fritz, her boyfriend of four years. Riddle, 26, has earned a following by documenting the couple's life on tour, giving fans an insight into the world of dating a tennis player.
The couple featured in the tennis-based Netflix series Break Point and Riddle says that her aim is to 'make tennis cool again'. The Minnesota-raised influencer and model brought attention on herself on Monday by sharing two cryptic posts on social media during and after Fritz's win.
Boasting 313,000 followers on Instagram, Riddle posted: "Cheer loud ladies" alongside a picture of Centre Court. She later shared a video of her celebrating Fritz's triumph over Zverev with the caption: "When your man wins for the girls." Riddle then seemingly deleted her two posts which had gone viral, as they're no longer visible on her page.
Last month, the court case against Zverev for allegedly assaulting his ex-girlfriend was terminated after a settlement was reached. He was contesting a penalty order and fine of €450,000 (£380,000) which was issued in October 2023. Zverev maintained his innocence throughout the process and the settlement doesn't include an admission of guilt, a court spokesperson said.
Riddle has been labelled 'the most famous woman in men's tennis' by The New York Times, having taken part in a photoshoot alongside Fritz ahead of this year's Wimbledon. Throughout her boyfriend's run at the championships, Riddle has shared a series behind-the-scenes looks on social media, showcasing the couple's swanky experience at SW19 to their fans.
Tennis isn't the only game of interest to 26-year-old, as she posted content from her trip to the Super Bowl in February and the Australian Grand Prix in March, as she continued to mix glamour with elite sport. Having grown up as the eldest of four children, Riddle went to study English Literature at Wagner College in Staten Island, New York City.
During her time at college, she gained a following by posting lifestyle content on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok while working as a model. The blonde went on to work in real estate and later as a media director for the company Love Your Melon which designs hats, headbands, scarves, blankets and apparel.
Four years ago, after moving across the United States to Los Angeles, she met Fritz on Raya, a so-called elite dating app for single celebrities and sports personalities. Fritz, who hails from California, had already been married, divorced and had a son with Raquel Pedraza - a former tennis pro - by the age of just 21 before meeting his current partner.
Riddle documented her travels with Fritz on the ATP Tour in 2021 and left her corporate job the following year. Admitting to having had a very limited knowledge of tennis when she started dating Fritz, she aims to bring outsiders into the sport by explaining its rules, culture and lifestyle.
In 2022, Riddle's recreation of a Princess Diana look at Wimbledon went viral. The next year, she collaborated on a series titled 'Wimbledon Threads' for the championships' social media channels.
Riddle dissects off-the-court fashion at the All England Club, telling Tatler of her experience in 2023: "It was the most fun I think I've ever had. I have always looked to Princess Diana for fashion inspiration."
She also told the magazine that she's a 'carbon copy' of her mother, Heather, who's a public radio executive while her father works in computers and data. "None of my family knows anything about tennis," Riddle revealed. "We're really a hockey family. I think my dad still has no idea what's going on."
In the same interview, Riddle added: "I came from a very humble, middle-class background and they believe in me so much. They're like, 'anything is possible' but I don't think they were expecting me to be, like… on the cover of The New York Times."
Riddle is expected to be back in her boyfriend's box on Wednesday, as Fritz faces Italian hotshot Lorenzo Musetti for a spot in the semi-finals.
