Taylor Fritz explains how he defeated Alexander Zverev in Turin

On Sunday, Taylor Fritz will chase a career-best title in Turin against world no. 1 Jannik Sinner. The US Open runner-up faced world no. 2 Alexander Zverev in the ATP Finals semi-final and prevailed 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 after two hours and 21 minutes. Fritz will try to become the first American winner of this event since Pete Sampras in 1999. 

Taylor toppled Alexander for the fourth time in a row this season. He kept his composure in the decider, fending off five break points in two challenging games and sealing the deal with a strong performance in the tie break. With 800 ATP points on his tally, Fritz will wrap up the year as world no. 4. 

Taylor explains his pattern against Alexander and the key elements in his win

Speaking about the duel, Fritz highlighted his determination to endure the backhand crosscourt exchanges with world no. 2. Instead of changing his usual patterns and seek other options against a more reliable backhand, Taylor used to deal with it, defending his left wing and building the advantage. 

Also, his first serve and forehand worked like a charm, and he hopes for more of that in the title clash against the strongest possible opponent who has no weaknesses in his game. The German landed in 78% of the first serve, but it was not enough to carry him over the top.

He stayed five of six break points and followed the rival’s pace from set number two, missing his opportunities in the decider after spraying too many errors. The American struggled behind the second serve but did a fine job in fending off seven of eight break points.

He erased six of seven break points, playing against only two in the opening two sets and working harder in the decider. Both players finished the duel with more winners than unforced errors. Alexander added 33 direct points and 27 mistakes to his tally, leaving his rival on a similar 30-28 ratio.

Turning defence into attack 🚀@Taylor_Fritz97 #NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/PTcOGCHkSX

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 16, 2024

Taylor made the dfference in service winners, firing 40 and leaving his opponent on 28. Zverev took charge from the baseline and erased that deficit. The American forged the lead in the shortest exchanges, and the German responded in the more advanced ones, with both players winning 97 points. 

Taylor makes a perfect start, wins the opener in 27 minutes

The lower-ranked player made a reliable start, serving well in the opener and challenging world no. 2 to follow that pace. Taylor held in the opening teo service games, and Alexander grabbed the fourth with a service winner for 2-2. Fritz produced a fine hold in the fifth game and made a push on the return in the next one. 

The American earned a break chance with a forehand winner and missed it after the German’s backhand winner. Taylor created another opportunity and caused Alexander’s mistake, delivering his only break and moving 4-2 in front. Fritz landed a service winner for 5-2 and served for the set at 5-3. 

The US Open finalist delivered another comfortable hold, closing the game at 15 and taking the opener 6-3 in 27 minutes and moving closer to the finish line.

Alexander responds with a break in set number two

The second set provided two pivotal moments, and Zverev emerged at the top in both. He closed the first game with an unreturned serve and repeated that at 1-1. Fritz played his first loose service game at 1-2, fending off a break point with an ace but facing the second. 

Alexander converted it after passing his rival at the net, moving 3-1 in front and improving his chances. World no. 2 held at love in game five but struggled a bit at 4-2. He offered his opponent a break chance and denied it with a service winner, holding and moving 5-2 in front.  

The German needed another fine hold at 5-3, and he made things complicated after losing the opening two points. Fritz missed an opportunity to earn a break point, and Zverev seized a set point with a forehand winner, forcing a decider after 70 minutes. 

Fritz clinches a thrilling decider

After four fine holds at the beginning of the set, Taylor faced issues at 2-2 after missing a forehand. Alexander earned three break points and a massive opportunity to move in front. However, Fritz saved two with unreturned serves and the third with a forced error, holding after more deuces for 3-2. 

It was Zverev’s turn to dig deep behind the initial shot at 3-4. World no. 2 played against three break points and kept his composure to erase them, holding for 4-4 and increasing the drama. Alexander made a final push on the return in game 11 from 15-40, hoping to strike a decisive shot. 

Taylor denied them with a smash winner and a forced error, playing flawless forehands when he needed them the most. Zverev left those chances behind and held at love in game 12 to introduce a deciding tie break. The German sprayed a backhand error in the second point and missed a forehand three points later to find himself 3-1 behind.

The American fired a service winner for 4-1 and repeated that in the eighth point to remain in front. World no. 2 sprayed a forehand error in the ninth point, falling 6-3 behind and offering his rival three match points. Taylor fired a forehand crosscourt winner on the first, moving over the top and reaching the final.

“I had to keep my composure, especially in the third set. I played almost perfectly in the opener. Alexander used an opportunity in the second set, earning a break and forcing a decider. I had to overcome a couple of tight service games in the decider. I did that and played really solid tennis in the tie break. Alexander’s backhand is incredible, but I have managed to stay on level terms in a backhand-to-backhand pattern with him this year. Instead of making changes, I believed I could endure those rallies. I had to stay solid in the exchanges and attack with my forehand when I could,” Taylor Fritz said.