World no. 5 Taylor Fritz is through to his 19th ATP final in Tokyo. The 2022 champion in Japan's capital faced fellow American Jenson Brooksby in the semi-final and earned a 6-4, 6-3 victory in an hour and a half.
Thus, Taylor will have a chance to seek his third ATP title of the season, likely against world no. 1 Carlos Alcaraz. Fritz fired 13 aces and made the difference behind the first serve.
World no. 5 struggled on the second serve but denied both break points he faced. Brooskby felt the pressure and gave everything to challenge the top-ranked American.
The younger player played against four break points and experienced one break in each set to end his campaign in the semi-final. Taylor tamed his strokes superbly and hit 31 winners and 13 unforced errors.
He led 28-14 in service winners and outplayed his rival from the baseline. Fritz survived deuces on serve in the first game of the duel and generated a break point at 3-2. Jenson saved it with a service winner and held after deuces for 3-3.
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Brooksby earned two break points in the ninth game and missed the first after a basic error. Taylor saved the second with a winner and held for 5-4. Brooksby missed a game point while serving to stay in the set in game ten.
He sent a backhand long on a set point and allowed his rival to close the opener after 50 minutes. Fritz provided five comfortable holds in the second set and kept the pressure on the other side.
He landed a backhand winner in the fourth game and welcomed Jenson's loose backhand to secure a break and move 3-1 in front. World no. 5 cemented the lead with a smash winner in game five.
Brooksby denied a break point in game six with a crafty drop shot winner and held to remain within one break deficit. Taylor moved 5-2 up with a booming serve and served for the win at 5-3.
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World no. 5 painted an ace on a match point, sealing the deal and moving over the top.
