ROME – ROME (AP) — Alexander Zverev served in a 6-4, 7-5 victory over 24th-seeded Nicolas Jarry to win his second Italian Open title on Sunday and win his biggest trophy since tearing his ankle two years ago .
Zverev opened the match with three consecutive aces and won 20 of 21 service points in the first set. The German did not lose a point on his first serve until the end of the second set, when the 2.01 meter Jarry hit a well-placed drop shot and responded with a winning cross.
In total, Zverev won 44 of his 49 service points – helped by hitting 95% of his first serves.
It has been a long road to recovery for fifth-seeded Zverev after tearing three ligaments in his right ankle during the 2022 French Open semifinals against Rafael Nadal.
When Zverev broke Jarry to convert his fourth match point, he fell to his knees on the red clay court, sat back and let out a scream.
“The last two years have been extremely difficult,” Zverev said during the trophy ceremony. “I didn’t know if I would ever be on this stage – regardless of whether I won or lost – so this moment is extremely special.”
This year’s French Open starts next Sunday and now Zverev has established himself among the favorites again – especially with top-ranked Novak Djokovic and 14-time Roland Garros champion Nadal both struggling of late. Djokovic and Nadal were eliminated in the second and third rounds respectively in Rome.
There are also injury concerns for second-placed Jannik Sinner (hip) and third-placed Carlos Alcaraz (right forearm) – who have withdrawn from Rome.
“The focus is on Paris,” Zverev said. “But let me enjoy this one for a day or two, and then I will have my full focus on Paris.”
Zverev, who challenged a German court’s sentence order over allegations he caused bodily harm to a woman, faces a trial starting at Roland Garros. He recently said he will not attend the start of the court proceedings.
And Zverev is not 100% healthy either. He had the little finger on his left hand bandaged following a fall in his quarter-final win over Taylor Fritz, after which he said he “torn a capsule” and that his finger was “crooked”. The German plays with his right hand, but uses his backhand with both hands.
Zverev will also defend his gold medal when the Paris Olympics tennis tournament is held at Roland Garros from the end of July.
Jarry, a Chilean who played in his first Masters Series final, defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarterfinals.
“This has been an incredible week,” Jarry said.
Jarry was supported by his grandfather, Jaime Fillol, who was a top 20 player and gave Jarry his first racket as a child. Fillol was part of the Chilean Davis Cup team that lost the 1976 final to Italy.
Jarry’s wife and two children were also on the court and he became emotional during the trophy ceremony and had to look away from his family to regain his composure.
“This is a fantastic example of what a family life on tour can be like,” said Zverev.
“I’m not that emotional,” Zverev added. “My father cries, I don’t cry. It’s a good mix.”
It was Zverev’s third final in Rome. He won in 2017 by defeating Djokovic in straight sets for his first Masters Series title and then lost to Nadal in the title match a year later.
It was also Zverev’s first Masters final since being defeated by Alcaraz at the 2022 Madrid Open. The only previous titles he has won since his ankle injury were in Hamburg, Germany, and Chengdu, China, in the year past.
Zverev received a winner’s check for 963,225 euros (more than $1 million).
Top-seeded Iga Swiatek defeated second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka in the women’s final on Saturday.
In the women’s doubles final, Coco Gauff double-faulted on match point to hand the title to Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini of Italy with a 6-3, 4-6, (10-8) victory. Gauff teamed up with Erin Routliffe.
Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos beat Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic 6-2, 6-2 for the men’s doubles title.
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AP Tennis:
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