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Alexander Zverev: NextGenATP star grabs BMW Open title in home country

By Gale Moorman

Mar 27, 2017; Miami, FL, USA; Alexander Zverev of Germany gestures after winning a point against John Isner of the United States (not pictured) on day seven of the 2017 Miami Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center. Zverev won 6-7(5), 7-6(7), 7-6(5). Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 27, 2017; Miami, FL, USA; Alexander Zverev of Germany gestures after winning a point against John Isner of the United States (not pictured) on day seven of the 2017 Miami Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center. Zverev won 6-7(5), 7-6(7), 7-6(5). Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Alexander Zverev adds to his list of accomplishments by winning the BMW Open in Munich. He wins the tournament on his home soil.

Alexander Zverev accomplished something special and cherished at such young age as a tennis professional.

"“I really wanted to win a tournament in Germany, which I’ve done now and…my first title on clay as well. It’s a great feeling…” – Alexander Zverev after his win"

Zverev gave a huge smile as he lifted the slim metallic trophy winning his third career title at the BMW Open in Germany, his home land. But as the ‘Next Generation’ tennis players, Alex, or as family and friends call him, ‘Sascha’, is used to going through many transitions since he turned pro four years ago in 2013.

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He played in Challengers and ATP events learning the crafts and strategies of the game at all levels. Alex had reached the French Open Juniors final and the Wimbledon Juniors final the same year he turned pro and a year later won his first ATP Challenger Tour title in Germany.

Zverev is used to being put through tests. Whether it’s extreme heat or cool weather conditions, or hard or clay surfaced courts, he has seen it all.  He is determined and it makes him more feisty to carry on and strive to win no matter what.

It could be that he had a good role model in his older brother, Mischa, who is on the ATP circuit. But through much of the draw, Alex has gotten top ranked difficult players who have tested him and oftentimes he’s won mentally and professionally when he was just eighteenth ranked.

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Last year he’d win his first ATP title at the St. Petersburg Open in Russia, dominating over the top five ranked Stan Wawrinka. But this year was a mixed situation starting with the Australian Open where he reached the third round with a loss to Rafael Nadal, in a five-setter no less. It was the Open Sud De France next, where he dug deep to win the semifinals from Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in three sets and then the finals where he came head-to-head with the Frenchman Richard Gasquet to win his second career title. It was his first of the 2017 season.

Zverev’s other opponents have been his NextGen comrade, Hyeon Chung, and ATP guys Dominic Thiem, Nicolas Mahut, Roberto Bautista Agut and Nick Kyrgios.

Indeed this tournament was the special one and for Alexander Zverev, three times being the charm as he captured his third career title by playing furious and cleverly, painting the lines, creating acute angles to volley in and a mixed bag of tricks for him to have the aggressive strategies to win.

"The 158th ranked Argentinian Guido Pella, his opponent, tried diligently to bring his ‘A Game’ to the match but it wasn’t quite enough as he said after the match “Sad that I didn’t win today, but I played against a great player, a great champion”."

Zverev blasted eight aces in just over an hour to call the title his own.

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