Turning 28 never felt so sweet for Alexander Zverev. The world No. 3 breezed past American Ben Shelton 6-2 6-4 in the BMW Open final in Munich, clinching his record-equaling third title at his hometown tournament.
Zverev, who owns titles from 2017 and 2018, matched Philipp Kohlschreiber's three Munich crowns while celebrating his birthday in style. Supported by a raucous home crowd, he broke Shelton early in both sets and never looked back.
"I knew I had to bring my A-game today," Zverev said afterward. "Ben's been on fire all week, and the hot, fast conditions worked for both of us. I've had a great birthday so far."
This victory marks Zverev's first trophy of the season and his 24th tour-level title. It also makes him the first German to lift the upgraded ATP 500 trophy at the BMW Open, adding a unique milestone to an already impressive week.
As Zverev revels in his birthday win, tennis fans worldwide will be watching to see how he carries this momentum into the rest of the season.
Reference(s):
Alexander Zverev marks 28th birthday with third BMW Open title
cgtn.com
