German tennis star Alexander Zverev has been voted the Athlete of the Month for September by the nation’s elite and rising athletes supported by the Deutsche Sporthilfe, sport1.de reported. The 29-year-old Hamburg native secured 49.2 percent of the votes following his breakthrough Grand Slam victory at the US Open in New York.
Zverev Secures Second Monthly Honor After New York Victory
Zverev captured his first career US Open title by defeating American Ben Shelton in a four-set final. The victory marked only the second time a German player has won the men’s singles tournament at the US Open, following Boris Becker’s 1989 triumph. The achievement earned Zverev his second Athlete of the Month award of the year, having previously claimed the June honor after winning his maiden Grand Slam title at the French Open.
Unlike media or public polls, the Deutsche Sporthilfe award is decided exclusively by approximately 4,000 funded junior and elite athletes who cast their ballots via online voting. Candidates are nominated at the start of each month by the Athletes’ Commission in the DOSB, SPORT1, and the Sporthilfe based on their performances during the preceding month.
Para-Swimmer Tanja Scholz and Women’s Canoe Polo Team Take Podium Places
Para-swimmer Tanja Scholz finished second in the September voting, capturing 35.2 percent of the ballots. The 42-year-old delivered standout performances at the Para Swimming European Championships in Kocaeli, Turkey, winning three gold medals in the 50-meter breaststroke (SB2), 150-meter individual medley (SM4), and 50-meter freestyle (S4) while setting three new world records. She also added a silver medal in the 50-meter backstroke (S4).
The German women’s canoe polo national team claimed third place with 15.6 percent of the vote. The squad secured the world championship title at the home World Championships in Duisburg by defeating France 8-1 in the final.
Historical Context of German Grand Slam Success
Zverev’s September award builds on a milestone season that aligns him with rare company in German tennis history. Before his New York victory, the last German man to lift the US Open singles trophy was Boris Becker in 1989.
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