TURIN, Italy (AP) 鈥� is starting to make reaching big finals a habit. He feels like he belongs among the very best players in tennis, too.
The American followed his runner-up finish at the U.S. Open by beating 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (3) on Saturday to play for the trophy at the .
鈥淚 have believed that I belong, that I鈥檓 one of the best players," Fritz said. "It鈥檚 not results-based. It鈥檚 more I can feel how I鈥檓 playing. This week is huge.鈥�
In Sunday's final, Fritz will will face top-ranked 鈥� the player he lost to in the . Sinner also beat Fritz in straight sets in the group stage this week.
Sinner advanced with a rapid 6-1, 6-2 win over Casper Ruud.
Fritz became the first American finalist since James Blake lost the 2006 final to Roger Federer. The last American to win the elite eight-man event was Pete Sampras, who beat Andre Agassi in 1999.
鈥淚 trust my game and I trust my level and I don鈥檛 feel nearly as uncomfortable in these situations anymore because I鈥檝e been playing the top guys at big events a lot lately,鈥� Fritz said. 鈥淚鈥檓 getting more comfortable in the moment. I鈥檓 really, really confident in my game.鈥�
Fritz upbeat after loss to Sinner
Fritz came away encouraged from his 6-4, 6-4 loss to Sinner on Tuesday.
鈥淚 felt much more comfortable from the baseline. ... I had chances to break him in both sets,鈥� Fritz said. 鈥淗e had an equal amount of chances, and he took his. He played the big points better than I did. It didn鈥檛 feel anywhere near as one-sided as the Open."
Sinner noted that Fritz 鈥減layed a great match.鈥�
鈥淭he difference was just a few points. Tomorrow will be very similar. ... But finals are always different than group matches.鈥�
Fritz trying to match Gauff
If Fritz wins the trophy, it will mark an American sweep of the season-ending events after Coco last week.
Fritz鈥檚 run in New York made him the first American man to reach a Grand Slam singles final in 15 years. He鈥檚 playing at the ATP Finals for the second time. On debut two years ago, he beat Rafael Nadal in his opener and made it to the semifinals, losing to Novak Djokovic.
鈥淚t鈥檚 awesome to come back and already go a step further,鈥� Fritz said. 鈥淚鈥檓 all about always trying to do better than the year before.鈥�
At the start of the week, his 鈥渃areer has always been a very steady progression and just improving a little bit each year.鈥�
Fritz has Zverev's number
It was Fritz鈥檚 fourth consecutive victory over Zverev, who replaced Carlos Alcaraz at No. 2 in the rankings this week.
鈥淗e鈥檚 an uncomfortable player for me.鈥� Zverev said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 no secret.鈥�
Fritz also beat Zverev at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, plus the Laver Cup.
Fritz will finish year at career high
Fritz was already assured of finishing the year in the top five for the first time and he鈥檒l rise to a career-high No. 4 on Monday.
Zverev has seen Fritz鈥檚 improvement up close 鈥� especially on one key stroke: 鈥淗is forehand used to break down quite a lot. ... I feel like the ratio is a lot more towards winners now.鈥�
It was a matchup of big servers between the 6-foot-5 (1.96-meter) Fritz and the 6-foot-6 (1.98-meter) Zverev, and when Fritz broke Zverev for 4-2 in the first set, it marked the first time that Zverev lost a service game in four matches in Turin.
Eventually, though, the match turned into a physical duel from the baseline. Fritz rallied from 0-40 and held his serve for 3-2 in the third after a nine-minute game full of long rallies 鈥� winning one such exchange that lasted 30 strokes.
Fritz was then under pressure one service game after another but somehow managed to keep holding.
Fritz got ahead early in the tiebreaker and finished Zverev off with an audacious inside-out forehand winner on his first match point.
Fritz finished with 15 aces to Zverev鈥檚 10 in a match that last 2 hours, 20 minutes.
鈥淚 felt like statistically and shot-wise, my level maybe was even higher than his until the important moments. That鈥檚 where I kind of blew it,鈥� Zverev said. 鈥淭his one will hurt more than the other few.鈥�
Doping case hangs over Sinner
Sinner is playing at home for the first time since it was announced before his U.S. Open title that he tested positive in two separate drug tests this year.
A decision to clear Sinner of wrongdoing was by the World Anti-Doping Agency in September and a final ruling in the case is expected next year.
Last year, Sinner lost the final to Djokovic, who withdrew injured this year.
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AP tennis:
Andrew Dampf, The Associated Press
