Zverev beats Sinner to set up Schwartzman final for Cologne double

Alexander Zverev remains on course to win his second ATP title in Cologne within a week after sealing a straight sets win over Italian teenager Jannik Sinner in Saturday's semi-final.

Facing one of the game's most accurate returners, Zverev zapped nine aces without a double fault, served 64 percent and won 24 of 29 first-serve points in an impressive victory that left the 23-year-old German pumped for the future.

"Today was a day when I felt like I could try things out on the court and a lot of things were working", Zverev added.

"It's getting better. I'll be back to my best form soon", Zverev said, referring to problems with his hip.

The German world number seven had claimed his first ATP crown of the year by besting Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3 6-3 to win the bett1HULKS Indoor title at the same venue last Sunday.

Shaking it off, Zverev has regained his footing on home soil. They could yet meet again, as the Canadian defeated Yoshihito Nishioka 6-3 6-4 in the last quarterfinal of the second tournament for a semifinal place against the second-seeded Diego Schwartzman.

After an even start, Zverev nosed himself ahead with a break of Schwartzman's serve in the fifth game of the opener, with another concession from the Argentine following.

The Argentine did his best to stay in the match and had chances to break right away in the next service game but the Hamburg native did a good job saving it forcing the error from the number two seed.

Germany's Alexander Zverev celebrates with the trophy after winning his final match against Argentina's Diego Sebastian Schwartzman at the Lanxess Arena Cologne October 25, 2020.