Eastbourne 2024 Final: Taylor Fritz vs Max Purcell preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick | Rothesay International
Match Details
Fixture: (1) Taylor Fritz vs (Q) Max Purcell
Date: Saturday, June 29
Tournament: Rothesay International 2024
Round: Final
Venue: Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club, Eastbourne, United Kingdom
Category: ATP 250
Surface: Grass (Outdoors)
Prize Money: $922,573
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Tennis Channel & BBC TV | Canada - DAZN
Taylor Fritz vs Max Purcell preview
Top seed Taylor Fritz will take on Australian qualifier Max Purcell in the final of the 2024 Rothesay International on Saturday, June 29.
Fritz, a two-time champion at the tournament, edged past Thiago Seyboth Wild in the second round 7-6(4), 6-3. Up against Juncheng Shang in the quarterfinals, both players started terrifically on serve. Neither player dropped their serve once throughout the entire contest, with Fritz turning up the heat in both tie-breakers to seal a 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5) victory.
Fritz took on fellow big-server Aleksandar Vukic in the semi-finals. Both players were on their mark on serve and from the back of the court right from the get-go. Neither player was broken, with the entire match seeing only six break-point opportunities in total. Fritz once again played some of his best tennis when it mattered most, sealing another win in two tie-break sets 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4).
Purcell, meanwhile, opened his Eastbourne campaign in the qualifiers. He saw off Brits Jan Choinski and Henry Searle to book his spot in the main draw. Purcell was put to the test in his opener against Laslo Djere, but eventually sealed the win in three sets 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.
He then saw off Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 6-4 in the second round, and Miomir Kecmanovic in the quarterfinals to a 6-3, 7-6 (4) scoreline.
Purcell went up against home-favourite and an in-form Billy Harris in the semi-finals. An early break in favor of the Australian proved decisive as he went on to wrap up the first set. Harris fought back in the second with a solitary break in the final game to send it into a decider.
It was once again Purcell who took the early initiative with the break of serve in the third game. Like the other two sets, the break proved decisive as he went on to seal an emphatic 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win.
Taylor Fritz vs Max Purcell head-to-head
Taylor Fritz leads Max Purcell 1-0 in the head-to-head, having won their only previous encounter at the 2023 Swiss Indoors in straight sets 7-6 (7), 7-6 (4).
Taylor Fritz vs Max Purcell odds
(Odds sourced from BetMGM)
Taylor Fritz vs Max Purcell prediction
Fritz has been in great form all week and is yet to drop a set. He has played five tie-breakers in a total of six sets and has consistently managed to deliver the goods when it has mattered the most. He's been terrific on serve and has been particularly destructive on the forehand wing.
Purcell too has been in great form this week. He's been brilliant from the baseline and a real force to be reckoned with every time he comes forward to the net. His serve, which has often been the weakest element of his game, has also been firing.
Fritz enters the contest as the favorite for his third title at the venue and could do so easily if Purcell does not make early inroads on the return. The Aussie will also have to regularly attack the net and keep points short if he is to have a chance of winning his first-ever career ATP final.
Pick: Fritz in straight sets.