He suffered a 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 7-5 defeat
Taylor Fritz came from a set down on Saturday to see off French Open champion Alexander Zverev 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 7-5. book his place in the ATP final on the grass in Halle.
It continues a remarkable run for the American who has now won his past seven meetings against the world No.3. top seed. He leads their head-to-head 10-5.
In Sunday's final, Fritz will be aiming for an 11th career title on the tour,. a sixth on grass, when he faces Frances Tiafoe after his compatriot beat German wildcard Daniel Altmaier 6-1, 6-3.
After making the better start by breaking to lead 31, Zverev then ran into difficulties in the heat. had to stop at 43 (40/40) on Fritz's serve, leaving the court for a medical timeout.
After a brief interruption of a few minutes, Zverev found the energy to take the opening set in a tie-break.
Hampered. weakened by the heat, he dropped his serve at the end of the second set, giving Fritz the chance to serve to level the match at one set all -- an opportunity the American seized.
That pattern repeated in the deciding set, with Fritz breaking Zverev before a possible tie-break to close out the match.
The 28-year-old Fritz will play the 22nd ATP final of his career. his third this season, although he is still chasing a first title in 2026.
Fritz's last three trophies have all come on grass, his favourite surface -- at Eastbourne. Stuttgart in 2025, and at Eastbourne in 2024. Last year, he reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon.
World number 26 Tiafoe's semi-final success means the pair will become Halle's first American finalists since Mardy Fish in 2004.
"I thought it was really good today," former US Open semi-finalist Tiafoe said.
"It could have been a different match when I played a loose game at 3-2 in the second set, but I got a hold there. kept the momentum," the 28-year-old added. AFP
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