Paris 2024 Olympics: Fritz/Paul beat Murray/Evans in QFs; Krajicek/Ram reach gold medal match

Team USA is guaranteed a tennis medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, and just one match stands between a potential all-American men's doubles final after Thursday's play.

Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul defeated the British duo of Andy Murray and Daniel Evans, 6-2, 6-4, to advance to the semifinals on Day 6 at Roland Garros—but not before Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram booked their place in the gold medal match with a 6-2, 6-2 win against Czechs Tomas Machac and Adam Pavlasek. Neither of the American men's doubles teams has lost a set this week.

In singles quarterfinal action, Paul was turned back by reigning Roland Garros champ Carlos Alcaraz, 6-3, 7-6(7).

Fritz/Paul knock Murray out of farewell tournament

Comeback kings Murray and Evans saved seven match points in their first two Olympic wins, and they fought off another against Fritz and Paul on Thursday. But after the Britons charged back from 5-2 down in the second set, Fritz delivered a strong final service game to seal the win for Team USA.

"That's why we tried really hard to be up the double break," Fritz said. "We were just like whatever. Both of us know, it's just a better combo with me serving and Tommy at net, rather than him serving and me at net. We feel pretty comfortable serving that one out in the last game."

The Americans succeeded with first-strike tennis on both serve and return, ripping 16 winners in the match and dropping serve just once, when Paul was broken in his attempt to serve out the victory.

But the win was bittersweet, as it also meant the end of Murray's legendary career.

Krajicek/Ram cruise into final

After the pageantry and drama of their quarterfinal win against Spain's Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal on Wednesday night, Krajicek and Ram earned their most comprehensive victory of the week, dropping just four games against Machac and Pavlasek.

Following a fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics, the Americans are assured of at least a silver medal in Paris.

"It's great. It's a hard feeling to explain, until you get there," said Krajicek. "I thought we played a really good match today after the quick turnaround last night. Not always easy playing on a big court like that last night and an emotional win, to come back and play great the next day. So I thought we managed that really well. And we'll have a day to rest now and then be back ready to play on Saturday."