Zverev on the brink of Stuttgart grass success

World No. 3 Alexander Zverev must pass a finals test against Taylor Fritz after moving closer to the first grass court title of his career at home in Stuttgart on Saturday.

The German will play his first final on the lawns since 2017, when lost the Halle final to Roger Federer, a year after a similar result at the North German venue against Florian Mayer.

“I’m super happy to be in the final, it’s my first grass-court final since 2017,” the winner said.

“It’s been eight years. I actually really like playing on the surface. I’m happy to be in the final in Germany again, I’m looking forward to it.

Top seed Zverev, a winner in two hours over Ben Shelton 7-6 (8), 7- 6(1), finished with 36 winners and did not face a break point.

Fritz, three times an Eastbourne grass-court champion, booked his spot at the Weissenhof club, beat Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 7-6 (5) in their semi-final.

He leads Zverev in their series 7-5.

The American will be competing in his first final since November, when he lost to Jannik Sinner at the year-end championships in Turin.

After a miserable clay season, Fritz sank to seventh in the world.

“The clay-court season wasn’t the best for me, so I came here more motivated to start the grass season off well,” he said. “I’m super happy that I’ve been able to start it off with a final.

“I’m locked in and ready to go. Once I start winning a couple of matches on grass and start feeling good, all the other things start clicking for me.”

Fritz is riding a four-match win streak over Zverev who last won against the Californian in Rome last season on clay.

Main photo: Aleaxander Zverev winning in Stuttgart by Boss Open