World No. 1 Jannik Sinner defeated Zhizhen Zhang 6-4, 7-6 (3) on Saturday in the semifinals of the Terra Wortmann Open in Halle, Germany, sending him to his first-ever final on a grass court.
In Sunday’s final against Hubert Hurkacz of Poland, Sinner will attempt to become the first man since Andy Murray in 2016 to win a title in his first week at No. 1.
Zhang didn’t make it easy for Sinner, of Italy, to advance. Both players won at least 80 percent of their points on first serve, with China’s Zhang hitting nine aces to eight for Sinner. The only opening for Sinner came with Zhang serving at 4-4 in the first set, with Sinner able to pull off the match’s lone break.
Hurkacz, the fifth seed, topped second-seeded Alexander Zverev of Germany 7-6 (2), 6-4 with his serving prowess on full display. He hit 17 aces and saved all four break points.
Hurkacz won the 2022 event in Halle. Sinner’s best showing on grass was a semifinal loss to Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon.
Queen’s Club
No. 5 seed Tommy Paul topped Sebastian Korda 6-4, 7-6 (2) in all-American semifinal in London.
Paul has two ATP Tour titles to his credit, including earlier this year in Dallas, but both have come on hard courts. He reached the final at the grass courts of Eastbourne last summer.
He found the grass court to his liking on Saturday, hitting 23 winners to 12 unforced errors, compared to 18 and 16, respectively, for Korda.
Next up for Paul is Lorenzo Musetti of Italy, who defeated Australia’s Jordan Thompson 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in their semifinal match.
Like Paul, Musetti has two career wins, both coming in 2022. This will be his first final on grass.
