Alexander Zverev becomes second singles player to qualify for ATP Finals despite US Open exit

Alexander Zverev joins Jannik Sinner in booking a spot for year-ending ATP Finals.

Alexander Zverev went past Brandon Nakashima in US Open 2024 fourth round to qualify for ATP Finals for the seventh time. The German defeated the unseeded Nakashima 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 in two hours and 36 minutes. The triumph also gave Zverev his 450th win tour-level win. The World No. #4 served 14 aces and converted six breakpoints against Nakashima.

However, those heroics did not matter as Zverev made a second straight exit in the US Open quarterfinals. He lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the same stage last season, bowing out in straight sets.

Up against 12th seed American Taylor Fritz in the quarters, Germany’s Zverev could not produce a result for the second straight Grand Slam event. The 26-year-old Zverev lost to Fritz at Wimbledon two months ago in the fourth round after another long-drawn encounter.

Fritz edged Zverev 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(3) after going toe-to-toe for much of their three-hour, 26-minute encounter at Arthur Ashe Stadium. After drawing level in their ATP head-to-head at 5-5, the Californian has good reason to celebrate as he has made his maiden Grand Slam semi-final. Zverev’s 77 winners in the round of eight match proved fruitless as Fritz converted the crucial points to end the German’s stay at Flushing Meadows.

Also Read: Novak Djokovic expected to suffer massive drop in ATP rankings after US Open 2024 early exit

With Zverev joining Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic in exiting the tournament, only two of the top five seeds remain in the fray – top seed Jannik Sinner and fifth seed Daniil Medvedev. The Russian is the only former champion remaining in the men’s singles draw. Alcaraz and Djokovic were first-week casualties, while Zverev joined them two days into the second week.

An American presence in the finals is ensured when Fritz takes on countryman Frances Tiafoe in the semi-finals. The winner will emulate Andy Roddick as the first American to reach the title round of a major since Andy Roddick at 2009 Wimbledon. Tiafoe made the last four following Grigor Dimitrov’s retirement with the No. 20 seed leading two sets to one and 4-1 in the fourth set.

It will also be the first all-American semi-final at the US Open since Andre Agassi and Robby Ginepri fought a five-setter inside Arthur Ashe Stadium in 2005. The winner of the Fritz-Tiafoe encounter will make history as the first American US Open finalist and possibly the first US Open champion since Andy Roddick. Roddick won the trophy in 2003 and made the finals in 2006.

Zverev has qualified for the singles draw at the year-ending event for seven of the previous eight editions and is a two-time Nitto ATP Finals champion. The German took the trophy in 2018 and 2021.  Zverev and seven-time champion Novak Djokovic are the only active players to have won the event more than once. Sinner was the first player to qualify for the 2024 Nitto ATP Finals in August and reached the championship round last year.

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