Key events
First set: Fritz 2-2 Zverev*
Big serve down the T and smash to follow up from Zverev. Well placed serve out wide next up and Fritz’s return finds the top of the net. A rally! Both players covering plenty of ground, Zverev tries a drop volley but Fritz gets there and makes the pass, even Zverev and his albatross wingspan can’t reach it. Both players hitting plenty of first serves, not much time to draw breath, or type for that matter.
First set: *Fritz 2-1 Zverev
Another rapid hold on serve by Fritz as I frantically google synonyms for ‘booming’.
First set: Fritz 1-1 Zverev* (*denotes server)
You know the drill. Zverev has served and volleyed like a dream all week and he shows off brute power and Andrex soft hands. A comfortable hold for the German. Both men rattling through their games.
First set: *Fritz 1-0 Zverev (*denotes server)
Fritz sends down two booming aces and takes the first game. Zverev tried a dinky drop shot that didn’t come off but did get a point with a rasping cross court backhand.
Righto, first set incoming. Fritz to serve!
Be still my beating heart:
Both men are sporting a Roger Federer style bandana, neither has opted for Rog’s cable knit cardigan though. Remember that? Peak Fed.
Zverev looks steely and focused, he’s in some of the best form of his career so far. Taylor Fritz wins the toss and elects to serve. Both players have absolute gun serves, we might be in for some tie breaks, I can’t see too many breaks of serve in this match.
Tim Henman thinks Zverev will take this one, he’s almost drowned out by the stadium DJ and accompanying strobe show. Which can only mean one thing, here come the players.
Home favourite and top seed Jannik Sinner will face off against Norway’s Casper Ruud in the second semi final this evening and we’ll be bringing you that game live too. Ambassador, liveblogger, you are spoiling us.
Sinner hasn’t dropped a set so far in the tournament but Zverev can best that, having not even been broken in his three matches so far.
Preamble
James Wallace
Hello and welcome to Alexander Zverev v Taylor Fritz in the ATP Finals semi-final.
Zverev is on a hot streak having won his last eight matches, an impressive run of form that has seen the lissom limbed German scoop the Paris Masters and impress in Turin thus far.
In a commanding performance yesterday, Zverev polished off Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (5), 6-4 and today he goes up against Taylor Fritz. Fritz is something of a boogie man for Zverev, the American having dumped him out of both this year’s Wimbledon and US Open slams.
Plenty to play for then, not least a coveted spot in tomorrow’s grand final. ‘Serve-off’ in Italy is at 1.30 GMT, best of three sets, should be a belter.
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