ATP Cincinnati: Alexander Zverev sinks Andrey Rublev for fifth Masters 1000 crown

Heading to Cincinnati with a 0-6 score at the season's sixth Masters 1000 event, Alexander Zverev defeated five rivals to claim the fifth Masters 1000 title at 24. On Saturday, Zverev prevailed over Stefanos Tsitsipas after trailing in the decider. Today, he had a much easier day at the office in the title clash against his junior doubles partner Andrey Rublev, beating the Russian 6-2, 6-3 in 59 minutes for the 17th ATP title. Zverev became the first German champion in Cincinnati since Boris Becker in 1985 and the fifth active player with five Masters 1000 crowns after the 'Big 4.' Rublev scored his first triumph over a compatriot Daniil Medvedev in the semis, and he saved nothing of that performance for today, dropping half of the points behind the initial shot and getting broken five times.

Alexander gave away only eight points behind his serve, losing serve once while serving for the title and never looking in danger in the previous games to control the scoreboard. The German had 16 winners and six unforced errors, while the Russian stood on an 18-19 ratio, insufficient for a more favorable result. Alexander hit a service winner in 44% of all the points in his games and had the upper hand in the shortest and more extended exchanges to earn the title in style. Zverev grabbed an extended rally in the opening game to secure an instant break and landed a forehand winner in the next one for a hold at love and a 2-0 advantage.

Alexander Zverev stormed over Andrey Rublev in the Cincinnati final.

In the third game, the Russian lost serve again and extended the lead with another hold at love for 4-0 after 15 minutes. In the sixth game, Alexander fired a service winner for another perfect hold and wrapped up the opener with a volley winner at the net at 5-2. Firing from all cylinders, the German forced the rival's error at the beginning of the second set for another break and barely lost a point on serve in three consecutive games to forge a 5-1 lead in no time. Making one last push, Rublev pulled one break back at 2-5 before Zverev broke him at 15 a few minutes later to seal the deal and celebrate the second Masters 1000 title of the season after Madrid.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3D9wxvh