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The 5th seed Alexander Zverev is through to the sixth Masters 1000 final following a commanding 6-3, 6-4 victory over Matteo Berrettini in 67 minutes. It was another excellent week for Matteo who will become Italian no. 1 on Monday, earning enough points to stay in contention for the ATP Finals but standing no chance against Zverev who overpowered him in every segment to race towards the finish line and advance into the third final of the season.
Berrettini won their previous clash in Rome in May but it was all about the German today, hitting 20 winners and 14 unforced errors and dominating in the more extended exchanges to seal the deal in no time at all. Alexander hit a service winner in 40% of all the points and had the upper hand once the rally would extend, taming his strokes nicely and producing another impressive performance, especially if we compare it with his season before Beijing.
The German held at 15 in the opening game with a service winner, settling into a fine rhythm and earning a break in game four after a wild forehand from Berrettini. Three service winners pushed Zverev 4-1 up in 16 minutes, making a hold at love in games seven and nine to close the set with a smash winner for a 6-3 in 30 minutes.
Nothing could have separated them in the first eight games of the second set, with only five points for returners and the results locked up at 4-4 before Alexander grabbed the crucial break on the fourth break chance when Matteo sent a volley long.
Serving for the victory, the German blasted four service winners to take the set 6-4 and move over the top in the best possible way, setting the final clash against an in-form Russian Daniil Medvedev on Sunday.