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

Home favourite Alexander Zverev will face one of his biggest tennis fears on Saturday as a 7-6 (10), 7-5 (2) defeat of Belgian Raphael Collingnon put him into a semi-final showdown with US nemesis Taylor Fritz at the ATP Halle event,

The German winner of Roland Garros less than a fortnight ago, has lost his last six meetings with the Californian who seems to have his number on court. Two of his losses have come at the Grand Slams and two at the Laver Cup competition.

“I had a tough time against him, especially last season when I was not playing so well,” Zverev said. “I was not in a good stage.

“But I’m playing much better this season. I hope to keep it that way.”

Fritz and Collignon scrapped for two hours on the grass, which is fast wearing down in summer 32 Celsius conditions.

In the day’s first two quarter-finals, there was not a single break of serve.

“It’s is difficult to break anyway on grass and the way we are all serving so big makes it that much tougher,” the six-tiem Halle semi-finalist and two-time runner-up said.

“The court is also damaged and that makes it tougher to break. These hot conditions favour the big servers.”

Zverev finished with 18 forehand winners as his Grand Slam champion’s confidence carries him into the June 29 start of Wimbledon.

He now leads the ATP with a 38-9 match record this season.

“It was a really, really high level from both of us,” he said of his quarter-final win over the Belgian ranked 51st.

“I’m happy I kept my nerve in the tiebreakers and got the straight-sets win.”

Zverev’s win was his 10th in a row and will play in the 86th semi-final of his career.

Taylor Fritz earned his first win over US compatriot Ben Shelton on Friday, winning their ATP Halle quarter-final 6-7 (5), 7-6 (8), 7-6 (3) to finally take revenge in their series.

Shelton, the national No. 1, had defeated his rival in last Sunday’s Stuttgart grass final as well as in the indoors Dallas title match in February.

Fritz had to work for two and three-quarter hours to advance to the final four in a stadium styled more than three decades ago to be an exact mini-replica of Wimbledon’s Centre Court.

“It’s just a relief after our last one (Stuttgart),” the winner said. “Once I got to 6-3 (final-set tiebreaker), I just couldn’t take losing another one to Ben.

“It seemed like he had the better chances today – just like I did in the two matches he won this season. I’m happy I got through this one.”

Fritz hammered 24 aces, finishing on the first of three match points. 

World No. 5 Fritz, always the tennis technician, said that he must improve before his Saturday semi-final.

“There’s a lot I can do better, I need better second serve returns, I missed so many of them today.

“That and maybe trying not to brick the ball when I come to the net.”

Fritz improved to 29-5 over the last three seasons of grass play and earned his fist top 10 win of the season since beating Lorenzo Musetti last November at the season finals.

Main photo:- Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton after match in Halle – by ATPTour.com