ATP Montpellier, final: In a demonstration of mental strength and astonishing power-tennis, Alexander Zverev defeated Richard Gasquet 7-6(4) 6-3 to win his second ATP title
The final of the ATP Open Sud de France in Montpellier saw facing each other defending champion Gasquet against fourth seed Zverev, who entered the tournament thanks to a wild-card.
In the first set, the opening game saw Gasquet get broken immediately, most likely due to the fact that he was serving in the very first game and hadn’t settled into the match. Zverev confirmed the break in the following game before three-time champion Gasquet clawed his way back to level 2-2.
From a tactical point of view, Gasquet’s approach to the match wasn’t really bright. He mostly played hugely top-spun shots which placed Zverev in his comfort-zone on the backhand side. Despite this, the first set ended in a tie-break, which was intelligently played by the German player, who won 7-4.
The second set didn’t see any break point chances until the eighth game, in which Gasquet got broken. Zverev then, in the ninth game, went and serve for the title. The German strolled to 40-0 before the Frenchman recovered to deuce. Nevertheless, on his fourth match point Zverev triumphed.
On route to his first ATP title in France, Zverev hit 32 winners (15 more than Gasquet), eight aces and won 81% of his first service points.
Claiming his second title on the ATP Tour, the 18-year-old joins an elite club of players who has won multiple titles on the tour as a teenager since 2000. Others who have achieved the milestone in recent years include Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Lleyton Hewitt. Roger Federer only won one at the age of 18.
Teenagers with multiple ATP titles since 2000
Lleyton Hewitt
Andy Roddick
Rafael Nadal
Novak Djokovic
Andy Murray
J.M del Potro
A. Zverev— YoungTennisGuns (@YoungTennisGuns) February 12, 2017
Zverev could achieve the double in Montpeillier when he plays in the doubles final alongside his brother Mischa.
“I got a tough doubles coming up, so my tournament is not done yet.” Said Zverev during his on-court interview.
“I want to congratulate Richard, he has won three titles here so he’s always been playing well.”
Zverev is now set to rise to a ranking high of 18th in the world.
