Im dritten Satz hätte sich die Partie mit umkämpften Ballwechseln und engen Spielen in beide Richtungen entwickeln können. Die Entscheidung fiel im Tiebreak, in dem Zverev von Anfang an in Rückstand geriet. Statt am Sonntag um den Titel zu spielen, beginnt für die deutsche Nummer eins nun der Urlaub. Wieder einmal erwies sich Fritz als Angstgegner und beendete Zverevs Hoffnung bei einem bedeutenden Turnier.
Krawietz und Pütz im Doppel-Finale
Für einen deutschen Tennis-Festtag bei den ATP Finals können damit am Sonntag nur die Doppelspieler Kevin Krawietz und Tim Pütz sorgen, die überraschend das Finale erreichten.
Im Anschluss an das starke Comeback des deutschen Davis-Cup-Duos und das 2:6, 6:3, 11:9 gegen die Australier Max Purcell und Jordan Thompson betrat Zverev den Centre Court. In der stimmungsvoll leuchtenden und mit 13.000 Zuschauern gefüllten Arena bestimmte dann aber Fritz Satz eins.
In his fourth semifinal at the ATP Finals, Zverev wanted to make up for his defeats at Wimbledon and at the US Open against the Californian, but didn’t get off to a good start under the circumstances. As the first of two strong servers, the two-time ATP Finals winner had problems with his own service and conceded the break at 2:4.
Previously, he had not given up his serve once in three appearances at the tournament, which was worth more than 15 million US dollars (more than 14.2 million euros). Now, after 27 minutes, a set was lost for the first time in the tournament. Zverev turned to his box questioningly.
At the beginning of the second period there was an unusual break in Fritz’s service game. Zverev cheered as the video images proved that the ball had not actually bounced twice before he hit it. The game was interrupted for more than four minutes until the decision was made. Zverev casually sat on the boards during the unusual break.
The rally was repeated, but Fritz still managed to make it 1-1. Zverev got into the game better in the second set. With his first break he took a 3-1 lead and equalized the set after 70 minutes. Everything was open again.
The Hamburger seemed closer to gaining the decisive advantage in the finish. At 2:2, as well as at 5:5, Zverev was unable to take advantage of opportunities when the American, fifth in the world rankings, served. He also had to free himself from a difficult situation. But neither of them allowed a loss of serve – the decision was made in the tiebreak with the better outcome for Fritz.
Krawietz and Pütz are now the first German duo to reach the final of the doubles competition after the two came from a significant deficit in the semi-finals and fended off a match point in the match tiebreak. Krawietz and Pütz were the first German doubles team in the 55-year history of the tournament to reach the semi-finals of the year-end tournament. Now they have topped this success again.
“To be here in the final is something special, absolutely,” said Krawietz: “We try to stick to the routines and prepare well, and then after the final we either celebrate or we celebrate anyway because it was a good end to the tournament. But not too much, because we also have the Davis Cup.”
