MUNICH — Alexander Zverev triumphed at the Munich tournament on Sunday by defeating American Ben Shelton with a scoreline of 6-2, 6-4, marking his third victory at the event. This win adds to Zverev’s collection as his 24th title on the ATP tour and his first in the current year. Previously, the German player secured wins at the Munich clay courts in 2017 and 2018.
Zverev expressed his joy after the match, noting the significance of winning on home ground, especially as he celebrated his 28th birthday. “Winning tournaments in Germany is always special,” he remarked. “It’s a fantastic birthday gift.”
Ben Shelton, on the other hand, was participating in his fourth career final and noted this was his second on clay following his win in Houston the previous year. The showdown at the BMW Open unfolded under sunny skies, where Zverev’s impressive serve proved critical. He held serve throughout the match, without facing any break points.
The decisive moment came when Zverev delivered a precise sliced backhand at the net which Shelton was unable to return, setting up the match point. Shortly after, Zverev sealed his victory with a sharp backhand volley at the net, following a brief exchange.
Zverev’s success in Munich also positively impacted his standing in the ATP rankings. With this victory, he moved up to second place, overtaking Carlos Alcaraz. Alcaraz dropped to third after losing the Barcelona Open final to Holger Rune. The German player relished this dual achievement, solidifying a memorable weekend on both personal and professional fronts.