Highlights: ATP Finals: Taylor Fritz Defeats Zverev to Reach Title Match

Taylor Fritz advanced to the ATP Finals title match on Saturday by defeating Alexander Zverev 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7/3) at the season-ending tournament in Turin.

In Sunday’s final, Fritz will compete against either world number one Jannik Sinner or Casper Ruud, aiming to become the first American to win the title since Pete Sampras in 1999. James Blake was the last American man to reach the final, achieving this in 2006.

Fritz may have the opportunity to avenge his loss to Sinner from the US Open final after a hard-fought battle in Italy. Both Fritz and Zverev had multiple chances to seize control in a roller-coaster third set but were unable to capitalize on several break points. However, Fritz remained composed in the tie-break, securing his place in the final.

Sinner, supported by a fervent home crowd, is striving for his first ATP Finals title after an outstanding year in which he won seven tournaments, including his first Grand Slam victories at the Australian and US Opens. Despite losing last year’s final to Novak Djokovic, who withdrew from this year’s tournament due to injury, Sinner entered the 2024 event as the first Italian to secure the ATP year-end number one ranking.

Sinner’s year has not been without controversy, as he tested positive for traces of the steroid clostebol twice in March. Initially cleared by the International Tennis Integrity Agency, the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed in late September, seeking a ban of up to two years.