By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday June 24, 2022

 

Americans Maxime Cressy and Taylor Fritz will play for the Eastbourne title on Saturday.

Photo Source: Getty

American Maxime Cressy battled past Great Britain’s Jack Draper to reach his first ATP grass court final at the Rothesay International in Estbourne on Friday, setting an all-American clash with Taylor Fritz.



60th-ranked Cressy will make his Top-50 debut next week as a result (projected 46 with his final, and potentially higher), and will play for his first tour-level title against Fritz, after his 7-6(5), 6-7(2), 6-3 victory over the 20-year-old World No.108.

Cressy has been hard on the locals this week in Eastbourne. He knocked off the two highest-ranked Brits, beginning with Dan Evans in the second round (7-6(2), 6-4) and moving on to top-seeded Cameron Norrie in the quarterfinals (7-5, 7-5).

Cressy fired 21 aces and saved all six break points he faced against Draper on Friday. He converted one of ten break points, and it made the difference for him in the third set.

Fritz defeated Alex de Minaur 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-3, behind 13 aces and 35 winners, against 27 unforced errors, to improve to 3-3 against the World No.24, and 24-10 on the season.

This year's Indian Wells champion also saved all six break points he faced on Friday - he converted three of six against the Aussie to reach his eighth ATP final (2-5).

Fritz and Cressy have never played one another on tour.