Zverev Advances To Maiden Masters 1000 Final

#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.

The 20-year-old Zverev will look to win his first Masters 1000 crown on Sunday and could face Djokovic in the Rome final. Zverev will meet the winner of Djokovic and Austrian Dominic Thiem, who are scheduled to face off Saturday evening. Zverev and Djokovic have never played but Thiem leads their FedEx ATP Head2Head series 4-1, including all three meetings on clay.

Regardless of Sunday’s outcome, Zverev will climb to a new career high in the Emirates ATP Rankings, at No. 14. If he wins the Masters 1000 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.

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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