Purcell faces two-time champ Fritz in Eastbourne final

Australian Max Purcell reached his first ATP Tour final on Friday at the Rothesay International, where he ended the run of British wild card Billy Harris.

The qualifier battled hard to earn a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win at the ATP 250 grass-court event in Eastbourne.

"I have a new coach this week and I feel everything is coming together this week," Purcell said. "It feels good. Qualifying last week in Halle gave me confidence, a couple of straight sets matches there. I felt that I was due to get a couple of wins."

In Saturday's final Purcell will face two-time champion Taylor Fritz, who held firm in two tie-breaks to defeat another Aussie, Aleksandar Vukic 7-6(5), 7-6(4). Fritz has been dominant on serve all week, dropping just two points on first-serve against Thiago Seyboth Wild in the opening round, four against Shang Juncheng in the quarter-finals and two against Vukic.

"I felt like I had a lot of chances to break and I just couldn't make it happen,” Fritz said. “Perhaps one or two I could have done better but for the majority he played very well, so credit to him. It doesn't feel good just scraping by in 'breakers but it gives me a lot of confidence that I am finding ways to win.

"I'm playing fine. It's tough to judge yesterday and the first three-fourths of this match; in the wind it's never going to be pretty. I started to find a bit of rhythm in the end when the wind died down. At least I can say that I'm serving well and I am getting those chances to break. I just need to take them."

Fritz, who lifted the trophy in 2019 and 2022, looks to become the first three-time champion in tournament history. The World No. 13 improved to 30-12 on the season by defeating Vukic and advancing to his 14th tour-level final (7-6 record).

"[Being a former champion] has been helping me all week. I love playing here. The tournament is extra special to me because this is where I got my first title... and hopefully I'll be back tomorrow to get number three."

Earlier in the day, Purcell saved both break points he faced in the third set and won 80 per cent (16/20) of his first-serve points according to Infosys ATP Stats to triumph after two hours and 15 minutes in his first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting with Harris.

The 26-year-old, who was competing in just his second tour-level semi-final, is the fourth qualifier in tournament history to advance to the title match. Purcell came into Eastbourne on a four-match losing streak.

Harris was competing in his first ATP Tour semi-final, having reached the last eight at Queen’s last week. The 29-year-old is up 23 spots to No. 116 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, while Purcell climbs 26 places to No. 68.

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