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

Eastbourne next week will  see the return of Britain’s Jack Draper watched by his new coach Andy Murray

The 24 year old last played a competitive match in early April and needs to get back to match fitness with Wimbledon starting on 29 June.

2024 US Open semi-finalist Draper was a late withdrawal from Queens last week and now feels ready to put himself to the test.

This will also be Draper’s first tournament under Murray’s guidance.

Draper was previously coached by 39 year old Murray’s one time coach Jamie Delgado before announcing that the triple grand slam champion would be supporting him for the grass season.

When asked if the partnership was to be a long-term project, 39-year-old Murray said: “I hope so”

“I think the number one priority for Jack and the team just now is getting him back on the match court, competing and gaining trust in his body again.”

Taylor Fritz continued his mastery of Alexander Zveerev on Saturday with a 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-5 defeat of the reigning French OPen champion to book the biggest grass-court final of his career.

The Californian raised on hardcourt will be playing his second grass final in eight days after losing the Stuttgart title match to compatriot Ben Shelton.

He took his revenge for that loss in Friday’s quarter-final before polishing off his seventh consecutive win over Germany’s Zverev, twice a finalist on the home grass.

Fritz now stands 10-5 in their series and has never defeated anyone save Zverev 10 times.

The top-seeded Zverev was playing at less than 100 per cent less than a fortnight after lifting his first Grand Slam title.

The 29-year-old left the court for treatment on what appeared to be a back problem at 4-all, 40-all in the opening set.

He came back out and powered through, losing only three points on serve in the third set before the wheels came off his game in the stifling 30 Celsius heat with the German leaning heavily on his racquet after exhausting points.

Fritz broke for 6-5 in the deciding set and smashed a game later to bring on three match points; he converted on his third after nearly two and three-quarter hours to reach the biggest grass final of his career.

“When I was down a set, I had no option but to fight it out,” Fritz said. “I played a good tiebreak and had some chances but got a few bad bounces on my side.

“I knew he was struggling with something and it was insanely hot. But I think I was feeling better than he was.”

Fritz said he chose to come to the loaded Halle event in northern Germany rather than play in London at Queen’s this week.

“I’ve never played good tennis there and I knew it would be a crazy decision to come here,” the ATP No. 9 said.   

“If I’m playing well on grass then the strength of the field doesn’t matter.” 

Main photo:- Taylor Fritz winning in Halle – by ATPTour.com