Final previews and predictions: Zverev vs. Kohlschreiber, Sousa vs. Tiafoe

It will be an all-German affair in front of the home fans in Munich when Alexander Zverev and Philipp Kohlschreiber battle for that title on Sunday. Estoril also has one of its own still standing in the form of Portuguese No. 1 Joao Sousa.

BMW Open: (1) Alexander Zverev vs. (6) Philipp Kohlschreiber

Zverev and Kohlschreiber will be squaring off for the fourth time in their careers when they clash in the Munich final on Sunday. Kohlschreiber leads the head-to-head series 2-1, having prevailed at this same Munich event in 2015 via a 6-2, 6-4 decision before getting the job done 6-7(0), 6-2, 6-0, 2-6, 6-4 later that season at the U.S. Open. Zverev most recently got some revenge on his fellow German by scoring a 6-3, 6-4 victory on the grass of Halle last summer.

Nowhere has Kohlschreiber been better throughout his career than in Munich. The 34-year-old ranked 34th in the world is an amazing 33-10 lifetime and will be making his sixth trip to the title match while seeking his fourth winner’s trophy. He has advanced this week by beating Ivo Karlovic, Mischa Zverev, Roberto Bautista Agut, and Maximilian Marterer without dropping a set or even being pushed to a tiebreaker. Following a first-round bye as the top seed, Zverev defeated Yannick Hanfmann, Jan-Lennard Struff, and Hyeon Chung. Since losing his first set to Hanfmann, the world No. 3 has also reeled of six straight sets without requiring a single tiebreaker. A slight edge in what should be a high-quality contest goes to Zverev, who is the defending champion and will be able to dictate the majority of rallies.

Pick: Zverev in 3

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Estoril Open: Joao Sousa vs. Frances Tiafoe

Sousa has become the second Portuguese player ever to reach an ATP final on home soil. He can become the first such player to capture a title at home, as Frederico Gil lost the 2010 Estoril championship match in three sets to Albert Montanes. Despite getting to play in front of a partisan crowd, Sousa could not have been expected to do much this week. The world No. 68 had never previously won a single match in Estoril (0-3 lifetime) and he recently lost his Barcelona opener to little-known Jaume Munar. Nonetheless, Sousa has advanced with victories over Daniil Medvedev, Pedro Sousa, Kyle Edmund, and Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Up next for Sousa on Sunday is a first-ever showdown with Tiafoe, who has been nothing short of on fire this season. The 20-year-old captured his first career ATP title in Delray Beach, made a run to the Miami fourth round, and has earned 15 of his 24 lifetime main-tour match wins. Tiafoe has maintained his fine form by taking out Tennys Sandgren (saved three match points), Gilles Muller, Simone Bolelli, and Pablo Carreno Busta. Surely energized by the fans, Sousa should be able to defend his way into a plethora of extended rallies and put enough balls to the American’s backhand to capture his third ATP title.

Pick: Sousa in 3

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