Zverev to face nemesis Fritz in Stuttgart final

14 hours ago 4

Alexander Zverev reached the final of the Stuttgart Open where he faces nemesis Taylor Fritz in a duel of top seeds in his bid for a second title of the year on Sunday.

Top seed Zverev saved a set point in the first set of his semi-final on Saturday against another American, third seed Ben Shelton, to win 7-6 (10-8), 7-6 (7-1).

Fritz defeated Canadian fourth seed Felix Auger-Alliasime 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) on a hot afternoon.

Fritz has won the last four matches against Zverev to lead their series 7-5, including at last year's Wimbledon, US Open and ATP Finals.

Neither Zverev nor Fritz faced a break point on Saturday while Zverev wasted six break points against the big serving Shelton.

"I am happy to be in the final. I will do everything to win tomorrow," Zverev told broadcasters DF1 as he bids for a first title on grass and 25th of his career.

In a rematch of their recent Munich final which Zverev won, the German wasted two break points against Shelton before taking the tight tie-break on his fifth set point with a service winner.

Zverev had a slight wobble by missing the first three after leading 6-3, and then had to save one at 7-6 down after conceding four points in a row.

Two more break points for Zverev came and went early in the second set, and another two - then match points - at 5-4. But Zverev then breezed through the second tie-break and wrapped up matters with his 15 ace on fourth match point, to go with 35 winners.

"It was a good match. I had break points, but not really because he fired an ace and winners. He is probably the best server in the world," Zverev said.

Earlier, Fritz hit 10 aces and did not face a break point against Auger-Alliasime who managed 15 aces but also accumulated 23 unforced errors, while Fritz had just 12.

Fritz clinched the first set thanks to a break in the 10th game when Auger-Alliasime hit a forehand wide on a hot afternoon.

Fritz missed his second break point in the fourth game of the second set but prevailed in the tie-break on second match point when Auger-Alliasime hit a backhand wide.

"I am so happy. It seemed it came down to a few points. I felt very lucky to get break in first set. I had more chances in the second. The tiebreak was close but it is great to be in the final," Fritz said.

Last year's US Open and ATP Finals runner-up Fritz bounced back well from a disappointing first-round exit at the recent French Open in his start into the grass court season, where he was won three of his eight career titles - all of them in Eastbourne.

Speaking before the second semi-final, Fritz said he has no preference: "I don't care, it will be a very tough match either way."

Stuttgart is among the tune-up events for Wimbledon which starts on June 30.