Zverev and Aliassime frustrate the Spanish final in Cologne

A little step missed Alexander Davidovich to get into the first final of his career on the ATP circuit. Alexander Zverev, David Ferrer's ward, was at fault. Both met again in the semifinals of the Cologne ATP 250 after the duel they fought in the past US Open, where Zverev swept the fast lane: 6-2, 6-2 and 6-1. That meeting had nothing to do with the one today, since the German sweated a lot to beat the Malaga in 1 hour and 49 minutes by a score of 7-5 and 7-6.

The beginning was unusual, so much so that it is never usually seen on a tennis court. The net came loose at its central anchor, which forced the match to stop for a few minutes in the first game. From there the law of the serve prevailed, especially that of the German, who gave an authentic recital with gunshots at 223 km / h (finished with 10 aces). Even so, the man from Malaga did not shrink, who played practically perfect tennis. He knew that his options were to extend the points from the back of the court and he did so in his service turns, quite the opposite of the German. Zverev waited crouching to strike at the hottest moment of the set with 6-5 going for him, breaking the serve of a Davidovich who for the first time accused some nerves in the match, sending two rights out.

The second set was even more balanced. In the fourth game, Zverev got the break and it seemed that he had left the crash sentenced (4-1 up). But as soon as there was a tiny crack, Davidovich slipped in. He took advantage of a game with a double fault from the German to get his long-awaited break, the first of the game, to put the 4-3 in the light. Everything suggested that the set would be resolved in the tiebreak and it was. The Spanish started with a minibreak in his favor, but soon everything went wrong. Zverev chained three points in a row and the Malaga player suffered a bulky cut on a finger after crashing into a corner of the track. The game was stopped for more than five minutes, but that misfortune ended up deciding the duel. Cruel outcome for Davidovich, who still does not tarnish the fantastic tournament signed by the Malaga native. For his part, Zverev can make up for his loss in US Open final to Dominic Thiem winning a title at home.

To do this you must exceed Felix Auger-Aliassime, who won his semifinal to an always combative Roberto Bautista. In a duel of many alternatives, the Canadian took the jack to the water by 6-3, 1-6 and 6-3 in 1 hour and 52 minutes, practically duration traced to Zverev's match, so they both reach the final of this Sunday with a similar wear. The meeting promises …