The second-seeded Fritz secured a 6-3, 7-5 victory over fourth seed Paul in Saturday’s semi-final, while sixth seed Musetti rallied from a set down to beat top seed Flavio Cobolli 4-6, 6-2, 7-5.
The results set up a final between two former top-five players at the ATP 250 tournament.
Fritz’s serve proves decisive against Paul
Fritz produced an impressive serving display to overcome Paul, firing 15 aces and saving all nine break points he faced.
The American maintained his composure during the second set, when Paul threatened to force a deciding set. Fritz saved three set points before breaking his opponent’s serve to take a 6-5 lead.
He then served out the match to complete the 6-3, 7-5 victory.
“I thought it was a super high level,” Fritz said after the match, praising the quality of the contest and the pressure both players put each other under.
The victory secured Fritz his fifth final appearance of the season and moved him ahead of Paul into 12th place in the race to qualify for the ATP Finals.
Fritz will now pursue his 12th career ATP Tour title.
Musetti rallies to defeat Cobolli
Musetti booked his place in the final after producing a determined comeback against fellow Italian Cobolli.
The top seed claimed the opening set 6-4, but Musetti responded by taking the second 6-2 to force a decider.
The final set was closely contested, with Musetti eventually prevailing 7-5 to complete the 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 victory.
The result gave the world number 26 his second final appearance of the season, providing a boost after a challenging campaign.
Musetti also demonstrated his resilience by recovering from a set down against an opponent who had reached the French Open final earlier in the year.
Fritz and Musetti prepare for title showdown
Sunday’s final presents Fritz with an opportunity to add another trophy to his collection, while Musetti will be aiming to secure his third ATP Tour title.
The two players have previously met several times on the tour, giving their Lyon encounter an additional competitive edge.
Fritz will look to make his powerful serve and aggressive baseline game count, while Musetti will aim to use his all-court skills and shot-making ability to disrupt the American’s rhythm.
With both players overcoming difficult semi-final opponents, the Lyon final promises a compelling contest for the ATP 250 title.