Taylor Fritz kept his grass‑court surge alive, rallying from a set down to downplay a struggling Alexander Zverev 6‑7(4‑7) 6‑4 7‑5 in Halle on Tuesday. The French Open champion arrived on a ten‑match winning streak but wilted in scorching heat, requiring medical attention several times. Fritz’s steadiness forced the German star into his first defeat since Roland Garros in a blistering match.

The win followed Fritz’s quarter‑final triumph over third seed Ben Shelton in Stuttgart, reversing that loss and marking his second consecutive grass final in Germany. He entered his fifth ATP 500 final without a top‑four seed, noting the draw’s depth despite the absence of Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. Fritz now meets fellow American Frances Tiafoe for the title later this week on Saturday.

Zverev’s ten‑match run ends, dropping him to a likely slip in the top‑five as the American climbs. Fritz’s victory over a world‑number‑three opponent extends his head‑to‑head streak to seven, bolstering his confidence ahead of the Wimbledon build‑up. The Halle Open final now pits two Americans at the tournament, and a win will secure a home‑nation champion if Fritz prevails for the American crowd.