When placed on number three, Alexander Zverev started at the ATP tournament in Cincinnati. After a dramatic semi-final, he had to assert himself in the final against the Russian Andrei Rublev.
Olympic champion Alexander Zverev celebrated another top-class tournament victory a week before the start of the US Open and confirmed his role as co-favorite for the last Grand Slam tournament of the year. Number three seeded Zverev won the final against Russian Andrej Rublew (No. 4) in a fast run 6: 2, 6: 3 and took the second Masters victory this year in Cincinnati.
“He’s one of my best friends. He’s very hungry, it would be his first Masters title,” Zverev said about the duel with Rublew and predicted a “tough match”. But Zverev started directly with a break, the Hamburger also took Rublew’s second service game and took a 4-0 lead. After 27 minutes, Zverev converted his second set ball with a forehand volley.
Zverev had an easy game
Round two started again with a break for Zverev, the world number five dominated the game almost at will. Shortly before the goal, however, he showed nerves and gave up his first and only service game, but made the victory perfect after an hour. Rublew seemed a little lacking in strength in the fifth meeting of the two buddies. In the balance of the two it is now 5: 0 for exactly six months older Zverev.
In his career he achieved a total of five triumphs in the tournament series, which is located just below the Grand Slams. The 24-year-old last triumphed at the Masters in Madrid in May.
Weaknesses in the semifinals
In the semifinals in Cincinnati, Zverev prevailed against Stefanos Tsitsipas (Greece), who was seeded two, with 6: 4, 3: 6, 7: 6 (7: 4). A strong comeback made it possible, Zverev already looked like the loser in the third set and even ordered a doctor after a phase of weakness.
In New York at the US Open (August 30 to September 12), defending champion Dominic Thiem (Austria), injured veteran Roger Federer (Switzerland) and Grand Slam record winner Rafael Nadal (Spain) will be absent. After the Olympic victory a few weeks ago and the success at the 2018 ATP season finale, Zverev’s main goal is to triumph in a Grand Slam tournament.
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