Alexander Zverev downs Denis Shapovalov to set up Dominic Thiem showdown
ByReuters
Updated 13/05/2018 at 07:44 GMT
Alexander Zverev beat Denis Shapovalov 6-4 6-1 to progress to the final of the Madrid Open, where he will face Dominic Thiem.
Alexander Zverev of Germany plays a backhand against Denis Shapovalov
Image credit: Getty Images
The German was superior in almost every facet of the game as he beat 19-year-old in just 58 minutes.
World number three Zverev claimed a decisive break in the ninth game of the first set before securing three breaks – all to love - in the second as he coasted into the final.
Earlier, Austrian Thiem beat Kevin Anderson for the first time at the seventh attempt to reach the Madrid Open final for the second successive year on Saturday.
The fifth seed won 6-4 6-2 as he continued the scintillating form that ended top seed Rafa Nadal's year-long unbeaten run on clay the day before.
South African Anderson, seeded sixth, was playing in his first Masters 1000 semi-final but faded after a solid start.
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Austria's Dominic Thiem (R) is congratulated by South Africa's Kevin Anderson during their ATP Madrid Open semi-final tennis match at the Caja Magica in Madrid on May 12, 2018.
Image credit: Getty Images
While Thiem had a 0-6 record against Anderson, the pair had never met on the Austrian's favoured clay surface, and the longer rallies suited his heavy baseline game.
Thiem needed a single break of serve in the opening set and broke twice in the second to wrap up victory.
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