Tennis: Zverev draws level after tournament wins with a trick

Enlarge image

Alexander Zverev

Photo:

CHRISTIAN BRUNA / EPA

Michael Stich has a special relationship with the ATP tournament in Vienna.

In 1991, as the reigning Wimbledon winner in the Austrian capital, he won the final against Jan Siemerink and climbed to fourth place in the world rankings.

Four years later, Stich twisted a spectacularly in Vienna and tore a ligament.

And now, at the age of 53, after the success of Alexander Zverev in Vienna, Stich is no longer the only runner-up in the all-time best list of German tennis players.

Boris Becker is at the top with 49 individual successes.

Like Stich, Zverev has now won 18 tournaments on the ATP Tour and is in top form in the last tournament weeks of the year.

Zverev won the final against the American Frances Tiafoe in an entertaining match 7: 5, 6: 4.

For the 24-year-old, it was the fifth tournament victory of the season after gold at the Olympic Games and the successes in Madrid, Cincinnati and Acapulco.

"Frances is playing the tennis of his life right now," Zverev had said before the game against Tiafoe.

"I'm looking forward to the final, it will be a game at a very high level." Zverev should be right.

Tiafoe made spectacular points, varied his game, let Zverev run a lot and had the audience on his side.

But the German could rely on his serve (19 aces, no double fault) and his backhand.

In the coming week, Zverev will serve at the last Masters of the season in Paris, after which the season finale at the ATP Finals in Milan will follow from November 14th.

Zverev needed 95 minutes to win in Vienna and received prize money of 275,000 euros.

krä