Righto, congrats to Taylor Fritz. He’ll play the winner of Jannik Sinner and Casper Ruud in tomorrow’s final and I’ll be back in a few hours to bring you that second semi. Goodbye (for now).
Fritz becomes the first ATP finalist from the States since 2006, I think the last American winner was Pete Sampras back in 1999. 25 years ago!
Taylor Fritz speaks:
It was tough in the second and third. I felt like I played a perfect set in the first. He’s such a good server and I felt like in the third we both started to get onto each other’s serve. I tried to be solid and give him absolutely nothing from the back”
I trust my game and I trust my level. I’ve been putting myself in these situations at the top level against the top guys and it’s paying off. I’m feeling confident.
Taylor Time
Fritz runs round a forehand and slams it cross court to seal the win! That’s his fourth victory over Zverev this year, the two men embrace at the net. “Good luck in the final” Zverev offers sportingly. The third set was a cagey affair with both players losing their way for periods but Fritz came through strongest at the back end to seal the tie break and take his spot in tomorrow’s final.
Tie Break: *Fritz 6-3 Zverev
Zverev’s forehand has deserted him! He shoots long to gift Taylor Fritz match point!
Tie Break: *Fritz 5-3 Zverev
Fritz has breathing room with a big serve that Zverev returns into the net
Tie Break: *Fritz 4-3 Zverev
Zverev pings a forehand down the line and it lands right on it! Huge point incoming on the Fritz serve…
Tie Break: Fritz 4-2 Zverev*
Zverev serve-volleys to get a point back on his serve.
Tie Break: *Fritz 4-1 Zverev
Zverev’s forehand looks ragged, concern on his face and those in his team. Fritz looking composed.
Tie Break: Fritz 2-1 Zverev*
Fritz gets the early break but Zverev claws a point back with an ACE.
Fritz will have first serve.
Third set: Fritz 6-3, 3-6, 6-6 Zverev*
Zverev has ice in his veins as he holds easily to love to take it to a tie break decider.
Zverev steps up to serve to stay in the match. Can he take it to a tie break decider?
Third set: *Fritz 6-3, 3-6, 6-5 Zverev The match creeps into its third hour as Zverev showcases lighting reactions to adjust to a volley off the net cord. Fritz wasn’t expecting him to make it and follows up with a weak forehand.
Zverev takes it to DEUCE. Pressure on Fritz here…
A shanked backhand goes long from Fritz. That was very twitchy from the American. Zverev has BREAK POINT but Fritz saves it with a big serve and ensuing overhead smash. The crowd are well into this match – a loud groan as Zverev hits one long off a regulation backhand. That’s better! Zverev swishes a backhand down the line to peg it back to deuce. The German is hitting the ball cleanest out of the two men at the minute.
Shot! Zverev hits a winner across court from three metres behind the baseline!
Fritz holds firm to save the break point. This third set has been very tense, a place in tomorrow’s showcase final is at stake. FRITZ HOLDS!
Third set: Fritz 6-3, 3-6, 5-5 Zverev* Zverev makes two line grazing forehands by this much to go 40-15 up. Fritz has his head in his hands. Zverev shows his core steel by holding for 5-5. Who’s going to blink first in Turin?
Third set: *Fritz 6-3, 3-6, 5-4 Zverev A twitchy backhand from Fritz lets Zverev back in at 30-30 but the American holds firm eventually to lump the pressure back onto his opponent. The quality has dropped off but it is entertaining tennis no less!
Third set: Fritz 6-3, 3-6, 4-4 Zverev* Zverev messes up an approach and then fluffs a backhand to give Fritz a huge opportunity at 15-40!
Big serve takes it to 30-40…
Zverev pegs it back! Some cagey play from both men but a Zverev backhand has enough on it to force the error from his opponent.
Deuce – DOUBLE FAULT!
Zverev what are you up to!? The German goes for a sonic boom of a second serve and misses it by a country mile! This game is all over the shop!
Zverev escapes with the game! He saves three break points and allows himself a double fist pump after a backhand pass seals the deal.
Third set: *Fritz 6-3, 3-6, 4-3 Zverev Fritz races to 40-0, calling on his first serve to come to the rescue. Two more ‘orrible forehands gift Zverev a sniff at 40-30. DEUCE! Another error from Fritz. He gesticulates to the heavens. Fritz survives the scare as Zverev misses with a backhand approach, it’s all got a bit scrappy in the last few games, both men feeling the pressure.
Third set: Fritz 6-3, 3-6, 3-3 Zverev* The Taylor Fritz forehand has gone AWOL as another shank gifts Zverev an easy point on his serve. And again! The next misses the baseline by a metre or more. An easy and quick game for Zverev, pressure lumped right back on Fritz.
Third set: *Fritz 6-3, 3-6, 3-2 Zverev
Oh my days! Taylor Fritz misses three relatively easy forehands in a row to gift Zverev THREE BREAK POINTS. An ACE claws one back for the American. Another big first serve is too hot to handle. 30-40. One more needed. Well played Fritz! He gets it back to Deuce with a bold crosscourt and a solid volley at the net. Another long rally sees Zverev dictate from the back of the court but Fritz stays with him and then forces the error through sheer force of will.
Shot! The rallies are lengthening as both players dig deep, the ball pinging back and forth an inch over the net, Zverev then opens his body and whistles a backhand winner as pure as an alpine snow drift. Clean and crisp.
This game is a battle. “It’s a backhand clinic” says Laura Robson on the commentary. Both players are slugging it out as the game ticks up past eight minutes in length. Fritz chastises himself as a ragged forehand goes long and returns him to deuce. Whoever wins this game mught well win the match. Zverev’s turn to admonish himself as he wastes an opportunity on the backhand side with plenty of court to aim at.
And Fritz HOLDS! That is huge for the American. He was 0-40 down and went back and forth on deuce. Could have been curtains if that one had got away, but it didn’t.
Third set: Fritz 6-3, 3-6, 2-2 Zverev*
Speaking of epic! A 32 shot rally has the crowd on tenterhooks, neither player flinching until Fritz misses the baseline by a smidge. Easily the best exchange of the match. Zverev then bangs down a speedy ace to take the game. Phew.
Third set: *Fritz 6-3, 3-6, 2-1 Zverev
Fritz races to 40-0 with epic serving but then gives Zverev a sniff with a wild forehand that misses by at least a few feet. Nae bother – a sliced serve out wide hits the line and gets him the game. Fritz is serving first in this set which gives him a bit of an advantage, he can keep putting Zverev under pressure and see if he can wheedle out a break opportunity.
Third set: Fritz 6-3, 3-6, 1-1 Zverev*
Zverev races to 40-0 before lobbing in the first double fault of the match, a Fritz mis-hit off the frame flies high and wide to hand his opponent the game.
Third set: *Fritz 6-3, 3-6, 1-0 Zverev
Fritz starts the deciding set off with a comfortable hold. Tim Henman on the telly coverage reckons this is going to a tie break decider. That’d be fun. Both players can still go up a notch or two at least.
A huge serve down the T sets up set point for Zverev… and he takes it at the first time of asking with another torpedo serve out wide that Fritz can barely get back, an easy smash at the net to level things up. Zverev releases a guttural roar – we’ll have a decider!
Fritz’s unforced errors went up and his winners went down in the second set. He needs to find the quality he showed in the first to push Zverev all the way.
Second set: *Fritz 6-3, 3-5 Zverev
Fritz makes Zverev come out to serve for it, he’s still having success in the longer rallies and can pick up cheap points on serve. If we do go to a decider, and it looks like we will, the the American still has a good chance of creating an upset. Zverev has not looked as comfortable on court today after a serene week.
Second set: Fritz 6-3, 2-5 Zverev*
Fritz is battling, hitting the lines and covering the court like a whippet to stay in the rallies. It pays off as he carves out a BREAK POINT at 30-40 on the Zverev serve. The crowd gasp at the strokeplay on show.
Zverev serves himself out of trouble to hold, surely this second set is his now?
Second set: *Fritz 6-3, 2-4 Zverev
Fritz shows his mettle with a strong service game.
Second set: *Fritz 6-3, 1-4 Zverev*
Zverev starting to dictate terms in the rallies now, he holds comfortably to go 4-1 up at the changeover. Fritz looking a tad ruffled for the first time.
Second set: *Fritz 6-3, 1-3 Zverev
A short backhand by Fritz is punished by Zverev to make it 0-15 but the American levels up with a deliciously placed forehand into the corner. Big miss! Fritz misses a forehand down the line, Zverev gets a sniff at 15-30…
Zverev is basically up against the backboard as he sits deep and tries to stay in the rally and deal with Fritz’s power. Fritz smashes an overhead to make it 30-30 but then gives up the first BREAK POINT on his own serve with a wayward backhand. ACE! Big serve in the big moment.
But Zverev BREAKS! A rifled forehand at Fritz’s toes sees the German take the break, he clenches his fist and lets out a big yelp. He needed that.
Second set: Fritz 6-3, 1-2 Zverev*
The lights in the stadium flicker as Zverev goes through his service motion. Need a new bulb back there, lads. The umpire halts play and calls for them to replay the point.
Fritz is getting some joy when Zverev drops his first serve, his powerful groundstrokes are knocking the German off balance behind the baseline. Zverev serves to the Fritz forehand and sees it blitzed back at him, he’s sulking after every dropped point now. Fritz is showing no emotion. He’s fully focused on the task in hand. Zverev gets over the line to take the game but not without feeling some pressure.
Second set: *Fritz 6-3, 1-1 Zverev
A long delay accompanied by plenty of whoops and jeers as the umpire calls ‘not up’ on a Zverev backhand. It takes an age to get the side angle but the call is eventually overturned! The players replay the point, Fritz does well to shrug it off and rattle along to 40-15… and he holds as Zverev shanks into the net.
Second set: Fritz 6-3, 0-1 Zverev*
Zverev’s body language isn’t great but he starts the second set well, serving his way to a comfortable hold.
What a set from Fritz! He finishes it off in style with a thunderous forehand, the stats show he’s hit twelve winners and made only three unforced errors. Zverev is having a right old pop at his box, he doesn’t seem to be happy with the tactics but ultimately he’s the one that is out there. Fritz has played really well, pinned the German back behind the bassline and passed him when he has ventured to the net.
First set: Fritz 5-3 Zverev*
A hold to love from Zverev in warp speed but Fritz will now serve for the first set.
First set: *Fritz 5-2 Zverev
Fritz consolidates the break with an aggressive service game, he looks like he’s enjoying himself out there. Zverev on the other hand is starting to sulk. Remonstrating with his box with shoulders slumped. Fritz will be loving this. The German hasn’t gone full Harry Enfield’s Kevin the Teenager but he’s not far off with the first set slipping away quickly.
First set: Fritz 4-2 Zverev*
Here we go, 15-30 and some heat on the Zverev serve as he misses a couple of first serves and Fritz steps up to the seconds. Zverev misses another first serve but the second is well placed and has him able to come to the net and finish the job. 30-30. What a rally! Fritz drop shots and then follows up with a lob, Zverev juuuust reaches it with a backhand overhead but Fritz blasts the passing shot to bring up the first BREAK POINT of the match at 30-40!
Zverev makes it to deuce with a fine pass of his own. The standard of tennis is extremely high. FRITZ BREAKS! For the first time in the tournament Zverev loses his serve and he looks incredibly shocked! Well played Fritz who stepped up, went for the line and grabbed the game.
First set: *Fritz 3-2 Zverev
Zverev and Fritz trade backhand blows from the back of the court, back and forth multiple times before Zverev puts some extra juice on a cross court and Fritz can’t get it back. Three big serves put the American back in control at 40-15. A shanked forehand makes it 40-30. First bit of pressure on the Fritz serve but no drama as he takes the game with another humdingin’ serve down the T.
First set: Fritz 2-2 Zverev*
Big serve down the T and smash to follow up from Zverev. Well placed serve out wide next up and Fritz’s return finds the top of the net. A rally! Both players covering plenty of ground, Zverev tries a drop volley but Fritz gets there and makes the pass, even Zverev and his albatross wingspan can’t reach it. Both players hitting plenty of first serves, not much time to draw breath, or type for that matter.
First set: *Fritz 2-1 Zverev
Another rapid hold on serve by Fritz as I frantically google synonyms for ‘booming’.
First set: Fritz 1-1 Zverev* (*denotes server)
You know the drill. Zverev has served and volleyed like a dream all week and he shows off brute power and Andrex soft hands. A comfortable hold for the German. Both men rattling through their games.
First set: *Fritz 1-0 Zverev (*denotes server)
Fritz sends down two booming aces and takes the first game. Zverev tried a dinky drop shot that didn’t come off but did get a point with a rasping cross court backhand.
Righto, first set incoming. Fritz to serve!
Be still my beating heart:
Both men are sporting a Roger Federer style bandana, neither has opted for Rog’s cable knit cardigan though. Remember that? Peak Fed.
Zverev looks steely and focused, he’s in some of the best form of his career so far. Taylor Fritz wins the toss and elects to serve. Both players have absolute gun serves, we might be in for some tie breaks, I can’t see too many breaks of serve in this match.
Tim Henman thinks Zverev will take this one, he’s almost drowned out by the stadium DJ and accompanying strobe show. Which can only mean one thing, here come the players.
Home favourite and top seed Jannik Sinner will face off against Norway’s Casper Ruud in the second semi final this evening and we’ll be bringing you that game live too. Ambassador, liveblogger, you are spoiling us.
Sinner hasn’t dropped a set so far in the tournament but Zverev can best that, having not even been broken in his three matches so far.
Hello and welcome to Alexander Zverev v Taylor Fritz in the ATP Finals semi-final.
Zverev is on a hot streak having won his last eight matches, an impressive run of form that has seen the lissom limbed German scoop the Paris Masters and impress in Turin thus far.
In a commanding performance yesterday, Zverev polished off Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (5), 6-4 and today he goes up against Taylor Fritz. Fritz is something of a boogie man for Zverev, the American having dumped him out of both this year’s Wimbledon and US Open slams.
Plenty to play for then, not least a coveted spot in tomorrow’s grand final. ‘Serve-off’ in Italy is at 1.30 GMT, best of three sets, should be a belter.
JOIN US.
Source: theguardian.com
