Stan Wawrinka will look to win his 12th straight ATP final Sunday when he takes on 19-year-old Alexander Zverev for the St. Petersburg title.
Wawrinka ran his win streak to 10 after dismantling Roberto Bautista Agut 7-6, 6-2 to reach the final on Saturday.
Zverev earned his first career Top 10 win beating Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-4.
“I just needed to serve well in the first place, and I did. Then I had to play aggressively,” Zverev said. “Berdych is always trying to dictate the point, and I had to take it away from him. It worked.”
It’s the German’s third career ATP final, he’s never won a crown. Neither player has lost a set this week.
In Metz, the home fans will have someone to cheer about in the final as Frenchman Lucas Pouille, a quarterfinalist in the last two Grand Slams, will take on Dominic Thiem.
Pouille outdueled David Goffin 7-6, 6-1 to reach his second career ATP final.
“I had chances to go up two breaks and maybe win the first set 6-1 or 6-2, but he found a way to come back,” said Pouille. “I held strong in the tie-break, then started to really play freely in the second set. I’m feeling good physically on the court after my US Open run. Quicker than before.”
Meanwhile, Thiem had to fight off 2-time tournament champion Gilles Simon, edging the veteran 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. Simon served for the match in the second set at 5-4 but couldn’t seal it allowing Thiem to reach his sixth final of the year.
“I expected a very hard match,” said Thiem who now leads Simon 3-2. “We always have long rallies. If he played one more good game at 5-4, the match is finished.
“It’s a dream to play in six finals. I never expected it. It’s always something really special.”
Thiem improves to 21-1 in deciding sets on the season.
Pouille beat Thiem in their only meeting last year on the clay in Monte Carlo.
The women’s final in Tokyo features former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki against 18-year-old Noami Osaka.
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