Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz will be squaring off for the 12th time in their careers and for the fifth time this season when they clash in the semis of the Nitto ATP Finals on Saturday.
Fritz holds a 6-5 lead in what is one of the most extensive current rivalries in tennis. The American has had Zverev’s number of late, bouncing back from a loss at the Rome Masters this spring by scoring wins at Wimbledon (in five sets), the U.S. Open (in a fourth-set tiebreaker), and the Laver Cup (in straight sets). Fritz is 5-2 against the German on hard courts, including 2-0 indoors.
Despite what those head-to-head numbers suggest, the tide is probably about to turn in a big way. Zverev is playing incredible tennis on what has always been one of his favorite courts–indoor hard. The world No. 2 is coming off a title at the Paris Masters and he compiled a perfect 3-0 record in Group John Newcombe without losing a single set. Zverev erased Andrey Rublev, Casper Ruud, and Carlos Alcaraz with little trouble.
Fritz is also on the home stretch of his best-ever season. The world No. 5 is 51-22 and he reached his first Grand Slam final appearance at the U.S. Open (lost to Jannik Sinner). Fritz’s round-robin effort featured a straight-set defeat of Daniil Medvedev, a straight-set loss to Sinner, and a three-set victory over Alex de Minaur.
In very good form and with confidence in this matchup, Fritz may be able to keep this one close. But that’s about all he can do. Count on Zverev’s roll continuing into the final.
Pick: Zverev in 2
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Agreed perfect prediction
Have to admit that I would have picked Zv in 2,,,a fairly decisive 2….and I would have been WRONG!!!!….Bravo Taylor!
Fritz was clutch when it mattered