Next Gen player Alexander Zverev overcame a slow start on a cold day to beat Guido Pella 6-4 6-3 in the final of the BMW Open in Munich. The young German player reeled off 10 of the final 13 games to clinch his second title of the season and th third in his career after St. Petersburg last September and Montpellier last February. He won the first title of his career on clay and his maiden trophy in a German tournament.
Zverev fired 8 aces and won 17 of his 21 points on his second serve. He converted on three of the eight break points he created.
After the final was delayed by rain by more than two hours, Pella broke serve at the start of the match to 15 and held his serve to take a 4-2 lead. Zverev fended off two break points in the seventh game to hold his serve for 3-4 and this proved to be the turning point of the match. Zverev broke again in the 10th game to reel off the final four games of the opening set.
Zverev broke again in the second game of the second set to reel off seven consecutive games to build up a 6-4 3-0 lead. Pella fended off four break points but Zverev closed out the match with a hold to love after 73 minutes.
The young German rising star became the sixth under 20 player since 2005 to win three ATP titles after Rafa Nadal, Richard Gasquet, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin Del Potro but he has become the first to achieve this feat since 2009.
“I lost the final in Halle last year to Florian Mayer, which was very painful. I really wanted to win a tournament in Germany, which I have done now and I am very happy now”, said Zverev.
Pella reached the second ATP-level final of his career.
“It was an amazing week for me. I am sad that I didn’t win today but I played against a great champion”, said Pella.
