Zverev Celebrates Birthday by Capturing Third Munich Open Title

MUNICH, Germany — Alexander Zverev marked his 28th birthday on Sunday with a convincing 6-2, 6-4 victory over Ben Shelton, securing his third title at the BMW Open and 24th overall on the ATP tour. This remarkable win puts him one title away from the milestone of 25.

The match, played in sunny conditions at the BMW Open, showcased Zverev’s dominant serving, as he did not face a single break point throughout the match. “I definitely knew I had to play my best tennis today,” Zverev said. “Ben has been playing extremely well this week. The conditions suit him extremely well, it’s very hot and very fast. They suit me as well, to be fair. I enjoyed my birthday so far.”

Zverev previously won the Munich tournament in 2017 and 2018, and his latest triumph equals the record of three titles held by compatriot Philipp Kohlschreiber. With this victory, Zverev ensured that the tournament will conclude as its inaugural ATP 500 event with a German champion.

Before this event, Zverev faced a challenging start to the season, going 6-6 since reaching the third major final in January. He struggled with expectations after Jannik Sinner‘s ban earlier this year. “This is definitely a great birthday present, let’s put it that way,” Zverev remarked. “Winning tournaments in Germany is extremely special for me.”

In contrast, Shelton, 22, was playing in his fourth career final and second on clay, having previously won in Houston last year. However, he appeared nervous during the match, particularly in the first set when he struggled to hold serve. Zverev seized the opportunity and displayed his wealth of experience to secure the win. Shelton acknowledged Zverev’s performance by saying, “I was trying as hard as I could to return your serves today, but I couldn’t make it work.”

The match lasted one hour and twelve minutes, with Zverev clinching victory with a precise backhand volley at the net after a brief rally. Shelton celebrated his achievement of becoming the first American to reach a clay court final above the ATP 250 level since Andre Agassi in 2002.

Following this match, Zverev is poised to reclaim the No. 2 spot in the ATP rankings, depending on the outcome of the Barcelona Open final, in which Carlos Alcaraz faced Daniil Medvedev later that day. The victory not only signifies a personal milestone for Zverev but also revitalizes his career as he embarks on the clay court season with renewed optimism.