Zverev brushes off hip pain to set up Cologne title duel with Schwartzman

FILE – Germany’s Alexander Zverev serves the ball to Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime (Unseen) during the men’s final of the ‘Bett1Hulks Indoors’ tennis tournament at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, western Germany, on October 18, 2020 (Photo by Ina FASSBENDER / AFP)

Alexander Zverev remains on course to win his second ATP title in Cologne within a week after sealing a straight-sets win over Italian teenager Jannik Sinner in Saturday’s semifinal.

Zverev, 23, avenged his defeat earlier this month in the last 16 of the French Open against 19-year-old Sinner by claiming a 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 win over the wildcard entry.

The hip injury which hampered Zverev, ranked seventh in the world, against France’s Adrian Mannarino in Friday’s quarterfinal was not an issue as the German saw off Sinner in one hour and 48 minutes.

“I had a scan this morning,” revealed Zverev, who was determined to face Sinner to make amends for his defeat in Paris.

“I was playing a player I just lost to at Roland Garros. That was still in the back of my head. I was not going to lose today.”

Zverev proved his fitness by converting his first match point with a blistering serve.

However, he was full of praise for Sinner, who he predicts will soon build on his ranking of 46th.

“He is an up-and-coming superstar. I think he is going to be Top 10 very shortly. I think he is going to be competing for the biggest tournaments in the world,” Zverev added.

In Sunday’s final, Zverev will face Argentine second seed Diego Schwartzman who defeated last weekend’s Cologne runner-up Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.

Schwartzman is still in the running for the ATP Finals in London next month.