Fritz Conquers Zverev To Reach Championship Match

Fritz conquers Zverev to reach maiden Nitto ATP Finals championship match

Fritz eliminates Zverev 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 in semis

Taylor Fritz from California, is competing in his second season-ending championships having first qualified in 2022. The #5 player in the world has had a stellar season winning two titles (Delray Beach & Eastbourne) and reaching his first grand slam final at the US Open (l. Sinner).

Over the course of ten months, the twenty-seven-year-old has eliminated Alexander Zverev three times in four events and led the head-to-head 6-5. Zverev from Germany and a two-time ATP Finals champion (2018 & 2021) also had an outstanding season, winning two Masters 1000 events (Rome & Paris), while reascending to #2, having first attained that ranking in June 2022.

While they have played on all surfaces this season, Fritz won their last and only indoor hard court match in September at the Laver Cup. Zverev was eager to rewrite the script in Turin having lost to the American in five in the round of 16 at Wimbledon and in four in the quarters at the US Open.

Although he lost to world #1 Jannik Sinner, Fritz reached the knockout round with wins over Daniil Medvedev and Alex de Minaur. Zverev reached the penultimate round with three impressive straight-set wins over Andrey Rublev, Casper Ruud, and Carlos Alcaraz.

Fritz won the toss and elected to serve. He gifted a double fault but held to 30 with two consecutive aces, while Zverev hit four winners including two consecutive aces to level. Fritz opened the third with his third ace and held at love for 2-1. Zverev opened the fourth with an overhead smash and held to 15 to level.

Imago

The  American ripped a forehand down the line and held to 30 for 3-2 while the German faced deuce, two break points, and dumped serve when Fritz crushed a crosscourt forehand.

Fritz was on fire as he struck his fourth ace and consolidated the break at love. Zverev serving with new balls hit his third ace and held at love for 3-5. Fritz opened the ninth with his fifth ace and with another reached triple set point and converted when Zverev overcooked a backhand.

The German served first in the second and held at love with an ace up the tee. Fritz hit three consecutive winners including another ace to level. Zverev held to 30 for 2-1 despite netting two consecutive backhands off deep returns. Fritz hit three winners including another ace but dropped serve following three unforced errors.

The world #2 pummeled a forehand…