There’s only one step left Taylor Fritz to become the first tennis player to win the ATP 250 tournament in Eastbourne three times and break away Jonas Bjorkman, Richard Gasquet, Ivo Karlovic, Feliciano Lopez e Greg Rusedski.
The American reached his 14th final on the major circuit – the third on grass – beating the lucky loser with a score of 7-6(5), 7-6(4). Aleksandar Vukic at Rothesay International. In the first set, only the Australian offered a break point which was at the same time a set point at 4-5.
Vukic saved himself, but lost 5-7 in the tie-break.
ATP Eastbourne – Fritz will challenge Purcell in the final. Tabilo-Ofner in Mallorca for the title
In the second set, the American missed four chances – one at 3-3 and three at 4-4 – and suddenly found himself facing a set point against him when he served to grab the tie-break.
A winning first allowed him to ward off the danger and then win 7-4 thanks to two excellent backhands down the line. His opponent will be Max Purcellwhich ended the wild card dream Billy Harris closing 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 after more than two hours of play.
For the Australian, this is the first ATP final of his career in singles. The title in Mallorca will be fought over by Alexander Tabilo e Sebastian Ofner. The Chilean certainly had to sweat more against Gael Monfilswho surrendered 6-2, 2-6, ( 3) 6-7.
The first and second sets were one-sided on both sides; while the decisive partial provided many emotions. The only one to struggle on serve was the Chilean, who was good at recovering from 15-40 in the fifth game.
In the middle of the tie-break, Tabilo let loose a super forehand and then managed the advantage with care. Ofner, for his part, overtook the qualifier Paul Jubb 6-4, 7-5. At the WTA 500 in Bad Homburg the final will see the protagonists Donna Vekic e Diana Schneider.
The Croatian has liquidated Viktoriya Tomova 6-0, 7-6( 6); the Russian defeated the third seed 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 Emma Navarro.
