ATP Hamburg Open: Alexander Zverev wins German tennis title, becoming first since Stich in 1993

Posted : 30 July 2023

Hamburg is rejoicing as its tennis hero, Alexander Zverev, becomes the first German since Michael Stich in 1993 to win the prestigious German tennis tournament.

In a thrilling final, Zverev secured victory on Sunday afternoon at Hamburg's Rothenbaum after an intense match against Laslo Djere, with a final score of 7-5, 6-3. The 26-year-old fulfilled a childhood dream by clinching the tournament title at his home event. This historic win makes Zverev the first German champion in the Hanseatic city since 1892.

The moment of victory was emotional for Zverev as he sank to his knees on the center court. Reflecting on his journey, he recalled his school days and how it all began, making this triumph even more meaningful. After the challenges of the past year, winning in his hometown felt incredibly special, much more than a typical ATP tournament.

This victory marked his 20th tournament title in his career and came after his successful comeback and triumph at the NITTO ATP Finals in 2021. Throughout the week, Zverev displayed a nearly flawless performance, braving various weather conditions and not dropping a single set on his path to victory.

The center court at Rothenbaum was filled with 10,000 spectators, all cheering fervently for Alexander Zverev. The final match proved to be high-class and evenly contested, with both Zverev and Laslo Djere putting up strong performances. Zverev's powerful serve and patience were essential as he had to save four break opportunities in the ninth game.

However, he seized the decisive moment and secured the first set with a perfect lob. In the second set, Zverev encountered a slight setback after breaking Djere to lead 3-1, but he quickly regained control with another break in the eighth game. After 1 hour and 50 minutes of intense play, he converted his first match point, sending the stadium into jubilant celebrations.

With this victory on the Elbe, Zverev earned a prize of 342,500 euros and 500 world ranking points. In the "Race to Turin," the annual ranking, he has climbed to ninth place, significantly improving his chances of qualifying for the final tournament featuring the top eight players of the year.

Zverev expressed his ambition to reach this goal, acknowledging that he has been performing well in recent months and hopes to continue this winning streak.

As the day came to a close, Zverev planned to celebrate his triumph with family and friends, savoring the fulfillment of a childhood dream. Winning in his home country was a remarkable achievement and a moment to cherish for the young tennis sensation.

ATP Hamburg Open: Alexander Zverev wins German tennis title, becoming first since Stich in 1993

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