Taylor Fritz is one win from glory after beating Alexander Zverev at the ATP Finals.
The American edged past the world No. 2 6-3 3-6 7-6 in an entertaining match in Turin, Italy.
After reaching the US Open final earlier this year, Fritz is bidding to be crowned ATP champion for the first time.
Coco Gauff’s triumph at the WTA Finals in China means the Stars and Stripes could claim both tours for the first time in 25 years.
No American has won the ATP Finals since Pete Sampras beat Andre Agassi in 1999, with Lindsey Davenport also triumphing that year.
Zverev came into Saturday’s contest on an eight-match win streak and Fritz was delighted with his performance.
“It was tough in the second and the third,” he said.
“I thought I played an almost perfect first set, things felt great and then things can change so quickly
“I played one service game that wasn’t great, he breaks me, and then I found myself in some tough spots in the third.
“I thought both of us really started to get on each other’s serve. More balls were being put in play.
“When I was trying to be aggressive, I found it wasn’t doing much, so I told myself at the end I had to just fight and be solid and try to take care of my serve the best I can and give him absolutely nothing from the back.”
Fritz has already made $4.6million in prize money this year.
4
4
He scooped $1.8million at the US Open and will now compete for the biggest prize of his career tomorrow.
He cannot take home $4.8million having lost a match earlier in the tournament but can scoop around $2.3million if he triumphs.
He will likely have Jannick Sinner, who takes on Casper Ruud in the other semi, in his way.
The Italian denied the American a maiden Grand Slam at Flushing Meadows.
He has lost just six times on tour this season and has two majors under his belt, while he defeated Fritz just days ago in straight sets during their group-stage game.
“I think even though the result is the same and the score’s not even that different, the matches felt very very different,” Fritz said after that loss.
4
“I felt like from the ground we were pretty even, to be honest. I didn’t feel like I was getting dominated in any of the patterns rally-wise.
“I felt like from the ground we were pretty close, to be honest.”
Fritz has reached a career-high ranking of world No.4 thanks to his semi-final triumph.
“This year has been a major breakthrough for him – literally,” said four-time Grand Slam winner Jim Courier earlier this month.
“This has been the year he’s become a real factor in the majors that he’s played in, to his credit. He’s really consistently putting himself into position.”
