Alexander Zverev says winning the Abierto Mexicano Telcel Open had been one of his career objectives after he lifted the title for the first time on Sunday.
The world No.7 held his nerve to edge out his Greek nemesis Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 7-6(3) after battling for more than two hours on the court. Zverev was tested by his opponent throughout the final and had to recover from as 1-4 deficit during the first set by winning five games in a row. Then in the second set he was broken whilst serving for the match on his first attempt before eventually prevailing in the tiebreaker. Overall, the German won 78% of his first service points and broke Tsitsipas three times.
“At first I didn’t have a great start, I didn’t play well. As the match progressed I got better, and I need to learn how to close the games because they don’t usually give you the opportunity. This time it was possible, but it is something I must improve,” Zverev said afterwards.
It is the first time in almost three years that Zverev has defeated Tsitsipas on the Tour. Heading into the clash he had lost to the world No.5 five times in a row and could only take a set off him twice.
“We played a lot in 2019 and at the beginning of 2020 when I was not kind of myself in a way,” he told Tennis TV. “It definitely was a better quality match from me. I’m happy and I hope I can build from that.”
Zverev’s triumph caps off what has been a strong week in Mexico where he hasn’t dropped a set. Tsitsipas was the only seeded player he had faced in the draw. The triumph comes two years after he won the doubles title with his brother Mischa. That was also the last time he has won a doubles title on the ATP Tour.
“I have always said that this is one of the tournaments I would like to win. I have a very strong relationship with Mexico,” Zverev explained.
“I came with a goal and achieved it. I haven’t had such a special week in a long time, because of course winning is important, but in general, I miss playing in front of the public and here I received a warm welcome.”
The victory makes it the sixth season in a row where the 23-year-old has won a trophy on the ATP Tour and his 14th overall. It comes after what has been a mixed start to the year for Zverev. Besides his run to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, he won only one singles match at the ATP Cup and lost in the first round of the Rotterdam Open. His win-loss record for 2021 now stands at 8-4 (excluding walkovers).
Zverev will be hoping to continue his momentum into the upcoming Miami Open where he will be bidding to win his fourth Masters 1000 title. He will be seeded third in the tournament behind Daniil Medvedev and Tsitsipas.
