METZ, September 23, 2017

Qualifier Peter Gojowczyk and seventh seed Benoit Paire of France will compete in Sunday’s final of the Moselle Open in Metz.

The 28-year-old German benefited of the retirement from his compatriot Mischa Zverev, leading 6-3, 1-0. Zverev was forced to stop the match after only 29 minutes.

Mischa Zverev

“I have a cold. I had to cope with sore throat and a runny nose but I felt physically okay. However, I woke up with fever this morning and I simply ran out of steam in the longer rallies. So I knew that it wouldn’t make sense to continue,” Zverev told Tennis TourTalk afterwards.

“Peter is a great player and you have to be at your best to beat him.” The World No. 27 hopes to be fit again for the ATP 250 event in Shenzhen next week.

After reaching the stage of the final four in Newport earlier this season, Gojowczyk will appear in his first title match on the ATP World Tour.

“I feel really comfortable here in Metz. I had played some really good match throughout the week. Of course, today’s match did not end the way I was hoping for, but I am happy to be in the final,” Gojowczyk was pleased with the outcome over the last six days.

“I had a couple of tough matches, in particular in the opening round against Norbert Gombos when I was a set and a break down. However, I managed to win and I am looking forward to tomorrow.”

Later in the afternoon, local hero Paire defeated Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia 6-1, 7-6. The World No. 41 from Avignon fired 17 aces, saved all four break points he faced and capitalized on three of his own to secure victory in exactly one hour of play.

Paire won the only previous meeting between the two at ATP World Tour level, beating the German on grass in Stuttgart earlier this season in straight sets.