Two months after playing in his first Major final in New York, Taylor Fritz will chase the ATP Finals crown in Turin. The American took down world no. 2 Alexander Zverev 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 in two hours and 21 minutes for his second most notable final in a career. Thus, Taylor becomes the first American in the ATP Finals title clash since James Blake in 2006.
Fritz defeatedZverev for the fourth straight time, keeping his composure in the 11th game of the decider and sealing the deal with a stronger performance in the tie break. World no. 5 will chase a career-best title against Jannik Sinner or Casper Ruud, who are meeting in the second semi-final in a couple of hours.
Zverev reached the semi-final without losing a match, hoping for another good run against the rival who has given him a lot of trouble this year. World no. 2 fought well, taking the second set but spraying too many mistakes in the closing stages of the duel, ending his campaign in the last four.
Crucial elements in Taylor's victory over Alexander
The German served at 78%, but he could have delivered more reliable numbers behind the first serve. Still, he defended five of six break points and stayed neck and neck with his rival from the second set. The American dominated with his first serve while struggling on the second.
He denied six of seven break points, including all five in the decider! In my opinion, it was a high quality match.Zverev landed33 winners and 27 unforced errors, while Fritz fired 30 direct points and28 mistakes. Taylorlanded 40 service winners, 12 more than his opponent.
Zverev responded from the baseline, taking a 57-46 advantage but spraying too many mistakes in the tie break. Fritz had a slight edge in the shortest exchanges up to four strokes thanks to those service winners. World no. 2 erased the deficit in the mid-range and most advanced ones, with both players taking 97 points!
Fritz serves well in the opener and clinches a break to open the gap
The US Open runner-up served well in the opening set, providing five holds and keeping the pressure on the other side. Fritz grabbed the third game at love with a service winner before the two-time champion closed the next one with an unreturned serve for 2-2.
Taylor attacked on the return in game six at 30-30, landing a forehand winner and generating a break chance. Alexander saved it with a backhand down the line winner before facing the second. World no. 5 drew an error from world no. 2 with a strong forehand attack, securing a break and opening a 4-2 gap.
Fritz closed the seventh game at love with a service winner, cementing the lead and moving 5-2 in front. Zverev served to stay in the set in the eighth game and fired a powerful serve for a hold at love, extending his chances. However, the American held at 15 in game nine after a forced error, wrapping up the opener 6-3 in a swift 27 minutes.
Zverev bounces back in set number two and forces a decider
World no. 2 raised his level in the second set, delivering a break and fending off a late break chance to turn the tables. Alexander held at love in the first game with a booming serve and landed another at 1-1 to stay in front. Taylor faced issues on serve in the fourth game, missing a backhand and facing a break point.
He denied it with an ace before offering his rival asecond opportunity. Zverev passed his rival at the net, clinching his only break and forging the advantage. The German confirmed it with a hold at love in game five before facing issues at 4-2. He failed to pick up a low ball and faced a break point.
Alexander erased it with a service winner and held for 5-2. He served for the set at 5-3 and fell 30-0 behind. Fritz missed a chance to create a break point, and Zverev converted a set point with a forehand winner, clinching the second part of the duel 6-3 and forcing a decider after an hour and tenminutes.
The decider goes down to the wire, and Fritz prevails
They served well in the opening four games of the final set, staying neck and neck. Taylor missed a forehand in the fifth game and faced three break points. He saved them with two service winners and a fine attack and held after three more deuces for a massive boost.
Alexander had to dig deep on serve in the eighth game, offering his opponent three break chances. The German denied them and held, locking the result at 4-4 and extending the drama. World no. 2 climbed back from 15-40 in the 11th game and created two break chances that could have sent him closer to a place in the final.
Taylor fired up his forehand and defended them with a smash winner and a forced error. He caused another mistake from his rival, holding and gathering confidence ahead of the tie break, which Alexander implemented with a hold at love in game 12.
The German missed a backhand in the second point to experience an early setback. He sprayed a forehand error in the fourth point and fell 4-1 behind after the American's service winner. Fritz fired another strong serve in the eighthpoint and welcomed another loose forehand from his rival for three match points.
Taylor painted a forehand crosscourt winner in the tenth point, moving over the top and booking a place in his first ATP Finals title match.
