Zverev to face his Fritz nightmare in Halle semis

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.