Roman safiullin

ATP Live Race To Turin:  Alexander Zverev of Germany on Monday secured a 6-3, 7-6(2) semifinal victory over Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov at the Chengdu Open to move within one match of his second ATP Tour title of the season.

Zverev fired 21 winners, including nine aces, as he delivered a classy all-round showing to improve to 7-1 in the pair’s Head-to-Head series. The German is now 45-21 for the season and seventh in the ATP Live Race To Turin as he seeks to qualify for the ATP Finals, where he is a two-time champion.

His next hurdle in Chengdu is a second tour-level meeting with Roman Safiullin, who will be competing in his maiden ATP Tour final. The German is all too aware of Safiullin’s improvement since he defeated the now-World No. 55 in straight sets at Roland Garros in 2021.