American tennis player Taylor Fritz reached the big title decider of the ATP Finals after beating Alexander Zverev 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (3) in Turin. The US Open runner-up became the first American finalist at the elite eight-man event since James Blake who lost the 2006 final to Roger Federer. The last American to win the trophy was Pete Sampras in 1999 when he defeated Andre Agassi in the all-American final.
In his debut at the ATP Finals two years ago, Taylor Fritz beat Rafael Nadal in his opener and made it to the semifinals. Then, he lost to the eventual champion Novak Djokovic. This is the second big achievement after Fritz’s run in New York. He became the first American man to reach a Grand Slam singles final in 15 years.
Taylor Fritz and America’s Long Time Waiting
Taylor Fritz is the first player ever to defeat Alexander Zverev four times in a row in the same season. The American beat the German three straight times this summer. First, in the fourth round of Wimbledon. Second, in the quarterfinals of the US Open – where he reached his first big final this season. Third, at the Laver Cup and he made it four in a row on Saturday.
Fritz showed a great level of play during the first set of his semifinal match. He was landing more than 80 percent of his first serves and crushing his forehand at close to an average of 90 miles per hour. He finished off Zverev in the first set in a bit over 30 minutes. But in the second set, he began to make more unforced errors and hit fewer winners to let Zverev lead the play. Fritz finally closed the two-hour and 21-minute game with an inside-out forehand winner.
Fritz Meets Jannik Sinner Again
In the final, Taylor Fritz will have to face the same man who ended his run in the US Open, the top-ranked Jannik Sinner. The Italian booked his place in the final with a clinical 6-1, 6-2 win over Norway’s Casper Ruud. With this result, Sinner has yet to drop a set in Turin. He could continue to pursue an impressive end to a year that has given him his first two Grand Slam titles.
Ruud was never given a chance to settle into the semifinal. Jannik Sinner showcased his ability to dominate all parts of his game and even go up a level to sweep the Norwegian aside. Sinner hit 23 winners past Ruud. He claimed two breaks in the first set and just the one required to win the second. He clinched victory by firing an ace on his first match point.
It Can Be a Revenge Match For Fritz
With consistent support from his adoring fans at the Inalpi Arena, Jannik Sinner is seeking to grab his second chance to win the season finale. This year’s final match would be a great revenge for his loss last year. The 23-year-old was beginning his ascent to being the top player on the ATP Tour. He had gone unbeaten to the final. He had also defeated Novak Djokovic in the round-robin stage. He was unable to repeat the same result in the final and let Djokovic clinch his seventh title at the event.
This time, the situation is slightly the same. Sinner will next play Taylor Fritz one more time. He has already beaten Fritz in the round-robin stage, but Sinner should remember the situation with Djokovic last year. Sinner will not want to repeat that in 2024 with a loss to Taylor Fritz. The American has shown his great performance against the 2018 and 2021 champion, Alexander Zverev.
Fritz has already tasted defeat against Sinner, losing 6-4, 6-4 in the round-robin stage. The 27-year-old American is aiming to be the first person to beat Sinner indoors, with the Italian boasting a 9-0 record under the roof. Sinner has also won seven of the eight title deciders he has contested this season. His imposing 69-9 win-loss record for 2024 will make him the favorite in the title match.
