By Alberto Amalfi | Saturday, June 17, 2017

 

Feliciano Lopez lashed 15 aces defeating Mischa Zverev, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (4), 7-5, to reach his fourth career grass-court final in Stuttgart.

Photo credit: Mercedes Cup

Feliciano Lopez was unbreakable winning a tight test to advance to the Stuttgart final.

The 35-year-old Spaniard did not face a break point squeezing past home favorite Mischa Zverev, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (4), 7-5, to reach his first final since last August when he was runner-up to Ivo Karlovic in Los Cabos.

Watch: Murray on Losing No. 1

Lopez lashed 15 aces—he’s hit a tournament-high 55 aces in four wins en route to the final—and won 16 of 23 points played on his second serve defeating Zverev for the third time in as many meetings.

In a clash of left-handers, the sixth-seeded German won 21 of 22 points played on his first serve in establishing a one-set lead.

Landing his slice serve with more sting and angle, Lopez hit eight of his 15 aces in the second set to level the match.

Zverev double faulted on match point to end it.



The victory vaults Lopez into his 16th career final, including fourth on grass.

The two-time former Eastbourne champion will face wild card Lucas Pouille in tomorrow's title match. 

In an all-French semifinal, the fourth-seeded Pouille beat Benoit Paire, 7-6 (5), 7-5.

Pouille scored the lone break for a 6-5 lead before serving out a 71-minute conquest that sent him into his third final of the season.

Lopez has split two meetings with the 16th-ranked Pouille, who is aiming for his third career title.