Frances Tiafoe dominated from the start as he became the first American to win the ATP Halle title with a 6-4, 6-4 thrashing of compatriot Taylor Fritz on Sunday.

The 2023 winner on German grass in Stuttgart  needed just 67 minutes to dominate Fritz, who was far from his best after reaching two finals in two weeks – and losing both to countrymen.

Tiafoe backed up his Stuttgart quarter-final last week with a solid display here, beating three top 10 opponents – Roland Garros finalist Flavio Cobolli, Felix Auger-Alaissime and Fritz – at the same event for the first time in his career

The winner set up a pair of match points with a backhand down the line before converting on his first chance in a battle of North American ball strikers.

Tiefoe credited his success to a higher power, noting his favourite scripture after the win.

“I’ve lost a lot of 500-level finals – Vienna, Tokyo, Alcapulco – so this is big,” the winner said.

“A few weeks ago I had one of the toughest losses of my career at the French Open (nealry five and a half hours against Matteo Arnaldi), but I had a good week in Stuttgart and I won my biggest title here.”

Tiafoe never faced a break point and sent down right aces in victory.

“I returned really well today, I didn’t have any trouble serving during the entire match. It feels really good to get this done.”

The winner said he played “a clean match” and characterised Fritz as “a hell of a competitor.”

“I played some good tennis and had some luck along the way.

“I’m excited for Wimbledon, but I will take this all in first: see you in a week, SW 19.”

Tiafoe lost just seven points on serve in his rout of his good friend.ament. He broke his curse of losing all four finals he had played above the ATP 250 level.

Main photo:- Frances Tiafoe with Halle Trophy ©ATPTour.com

Carlo Alcaraz lifted his eighth trophy of the season on Tuesday at the oddly scheduled Japan Open final, crushing Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4 in 92 minutes.

Due to an ATP scheduling experiment seemingly destined to fail, the final was played on Tuesday at the Ariake Colosseum so as to continue an oddball calendar which now allots most Masters events nearly two full weeks instead of the traditional one week.

The Japanese final will be followed by Wednesday’s Beijing China Open final (Jannik Sinner-Learner Tien)  before the mad crush of the Shanghai Masters, which also begins a 12-day run on Wednesday.

Player complaints are growing over  what is turning into a nonstop grind, with the disjointed calendar also confusing to fans.

Alcaraz, who lost barely a week ago to Fritz at the Laver Cup, won their Wimbledon semi-final last July.

The Spaniard claimed his 67 match win of the season as he strengthens his hold on the top ranking he seized from Sinner by winning their US Open final three weeks ago.

“It’s been my best season so far without a doubt,” Alcaraz said. “Eight titles, 10 finals… That shows how hard I’ve worked just to be able to experience these moments and accomplish my goals. 

“I didn’t start the year that good, struggling emotionally, so how I came back from that, I’m just really proud of myself, and of all the people around me who have helped me to be in this position.”

Fritz was treated for a left thigh problem during the quick-fire final, with the big hitter held to just six aces. 

“I’m really happy with the level that I played, with everything. Starting the week not good with the (rolled) ankle  and the way that I came back from that, I’m just really happy about it,” the winner said.

Main photo:-Carlos Alcaraz kisses Japan open Trophy – ©ATPTour.com

Carlos Alcaraz gave his dodgy left ankle a thorough workout on Monday, with the top seed coming back to defeat Casper Ruud 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the Tuesday final of the Japan Open.

The world No. 1 will continue his Tokyo debut as he plays for his ninth trophy of the season against Taylor Fritz after the Californian booked his spot 6-4, 6-3 over Jenson Brooksby.

Alcaraz played it safe after rolling his ankle in the first round here last week. But the 22-year-old showed he’s on full fitness with his fightback against Norway’s Ruud.

The odd scheduling of the entire Asian swing is designed to give the upcoming Shanghai Masters a clean run at the controversial new 12-to-13-day format.

Complaints have been mounting of the calendar experiment, with the ATP facing player blow-back and fan confusion as classic weekend final scheduling goes out the window in an attempt to generate further tournament profits. 

Fritz and Alcaraz have played twice this season, with the American winning nine days ago at the Laver Cup while Alcaraz took victory in their Wimbledon semi-final.

“I had a lot of chances in the first set; four break points. It’s just about details, so I just tried to be more positive than the first set.

“I was a little bit mad with myself, so I just tried to play with joy again, putting a lot of positive thoughts in my mind.”

The top seed advanced in just over two hours with his 66th victory of 2025.

With his two-hour, eight-minute victory, Alcaraz notched his personal-best 66th 

“I know he’s playing great tennis lately,” Alcaraz said of his final with Fritz. “H’s feeling great and really comfortable on the court. Everything is different since San Francisco…

“But it’s another challenge for me and I’m looking forward to it.”

Fritz accounted for Brooksby with help from 13 aces as he reached his first hard-court final this season

“I served insanely well: High percentage first serves and spots too. It felt like any game that I didn’t hit three aces, he was really outplaying me from the baseline. 

“I was able to hang in on my serve, and then capitalise on that scoreboard pressure.

My serve got me through it.”