This week’s ATP 500 event in Halle had a stacked field on paper and it has definitely been living up to the expectations, with some great tennis all week and now some very tasty semifinal matchups in prospect. Recent French Open champion Alexander Zverev is aiming to win a first ever career grass court title on home soil, but he will be facing some very stern opposition to get there.
ATP Halle Semifinal Predictions
Frances Tiafoe vs Daniel Altmaier
Head-to-head: Tiafoe 4-0 Altmaier
While Altmaier got one of the biggest wins of his career Friday against Daniil Medvedev, things will get even more difficult for him as he faces an opponent he has never beaten before and who will be extremely motivated after winning an epic third set tiebreak affair against Felix Auger-Aliassime. Tiafoe is having a very solid season, has dominated Altmaier even on clay (a surface that should favor the German in this matchup on paper), and is unlikely to waste this opportunity to reach the final here.
Prediction: Tiafoe in 2
Alexander Zverev vs Taylor Fritz
Head-to-head: Fritz 9-5 Zverev
Although Zverev has been clearly the better and more accomplished for all of their careers, it’s Fritz who dominates this head-to-head, winning their last six matchups consecutively, including two at Slams and two on grass. This is, however, the first time they face since Zverev became a Grand Slam champion, so the German might just have the confidence he needs to finally start overturning this head-to-head.
That said, on grass Fritz is generally the more accomplished player of the two and always looks more comfortable on the surface than Zverev so he could certainly make it seven in a row here. All in all, it should be a very close and heavily serve-dominated match, decided by a few key points, likely even in tiebreaks.
Prediction: Zverev in 3
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images
