World number 35 Alexander Bublik won his first title of his career beating last year’s ATP Finals champion Alexander Zverev 6-4 6-3 after 70 minutes at the Open Sud France in Montpellier. Bublik scored the first top 5 win of his career.
Bublik fired eight aces and won 86% of his first serve points to improve his ATP head-to-head series record to 2-0 over Zverev, following his 7-5 6-3 win over his German opponent in Rotterdam in 2021.
Bublik earned his first break from 30-40 down in the fifth game of the opening set on the third deuce to take a take a 3-2 lead. Zverev broke straight back in the sixth game to draw level to 3-3. Bublik won the final three games from 3-4 down with a break in the ninth game to close out the first set 6-3.
Zverev saved two break points in the third game of the second set to hold serve after two deuces. Bublik earned two breaks at love in both the fifth and ninth games to seal the second set 6-3.
Bublik beat Tallon Griekspoor, Pierre Hugues Herbert, Roberto Bautista Agut and Filip Krajinovic during a successful week in Montpellier.
The Kazakh player reached two ATP Tour finals in Singapore and Antalya and scored 35 match wins in 2021. Alexander Zverev was aiming to win the 20th title of his career and his second Montpellier trophy in 2007.
