#NextGenATP German Alexander Zverev thrived under the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 spotlight on Saturday, producing some of his best tennis to advance to his first Masters 1000 final at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome.
Zverev battled past the unseeded John Isner, beating the 32-year-old American 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1 in just under two hours. Zverev becomes the youngest Masters 1000 finalist since a 19-year-old Novak Djokovic in 2007. The Serbian won the Miami Open presented by Itau final that year.
“I'm into my first final of a Masters [1000], which is great, and especially on clay... It's a very physical game and it's very tough points all the time, long points,” said Zverev, who has captured one hard-court title (Montpellier) and one clay-court crown (Munich) this season. “I'm happy with the way I'm playing, but I still want to keep improving and I still want to develop my game and get better.”
“Dominic is playing unbelievable on clay this season. He's won Rio, made finals of Madrid last week. He's a very tough opponent. I played him three times last year on clay, three weeks in a row, actually. All of those matches were very tough,” Zverev said. “Novak, he's one of the greatest players of all time. He is never going to be easy, especially in a final when he already starts to have a rhythm. I think he played a great match against delPo today and yesterday.”
Isner, who, along with Zverev, trains in the off-season in Tampa, Florida, said if the German were able win his maiden Masters 1000 title, it would be a memorable moment for the sport.
“It would be a very cool story,” Isner said. “He was gifted with a lot of ability. But he doesn't let it go to waste at all. I have seen it in the off-season as well. That's what it takes to be incredibly good and one of the greats... you're blessed with a lot of ability but you work hard. You're hungry and you want to win. That's exactly what he does.”
Regardless of Sunday's outcome, Zverev will climb to a new career high in the Emirates ATP Rankings, at No. 14, when the new rankings are released on Monday. If he wins the Rome title, the #NextGenATP star will break into the Top 10 at No. 10.
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The 20-year-old Zverev, who had won both of his FedEx ATP Head2Head meetings against Isner, controlled the early goings and looked as if he was going to cruise to a straight-sets win. The 6'6” Zverev tapped a drop shot winner to break for a 3-2 lead and, behind 14 winners, had a one-set cushion after less than a half hour.
Isner mixed it up in the second set, though, serving and volleying with success. Neither player saw a break point, and to the tie-break they headed, where Isner jumped out to a 5/0 lead before levelling the match with a forehand winner.
In the third set, however, Zverev was ready for the serve and volley. Isner charged the net after a second serve at 30/40, 0-1, and Zverev looped a backhand past him for the break. He celebrated with a shout and a clenched fist.
The American had a chance to get back in the match in the third set, with Zverev serving at 3-1. For the first time, Isner had break points, but the German erased all three and served out the set to advance.
“I thought he played pretty well from the back of the court. But that's what he does. His backhand is world-class. He won't miss that shot very much, really, ever. So credit to him,” said Isner, who fell to 0-3 against Zverev in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series.
Zverev is currently leading the Emirates ATP Race To Milan, which will determine seven of the eight 21-and-under players who will compete at the inaugural Next Gen ATP Finals, to be held 7-11 November in Milan. The eighth player will be determined by wild card.
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