Alexander Zverev equals tennis legend Boris Becker's record with Italian Open final appearance

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / May 18, 2024, 10:28 IST

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Alexander Zverev has reached his 11th Masters final at the Italian Open, matching Boris Becker's record for the most Masters finals by a German. Zverev, the 2017 Rome champion, overcame Alejandro Tabilo 1-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 in a challenging semi-final. He will face Nicolas Jarry, who defeated Tommy Paul to reach his first Masters final.

Alexander Zverev equals tennis legend Boris Becker's record with Italian Open final appearance

Alexander Zverev (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: German tennis player Alexander Zverev has reached his 11th Masters final at the Italian Open, equaling the record set by his compatriot Boris Becker for the most Masters finals reached by a German since the series began in 1990.
Zverev, the world number five and the 2017 Rome champion, overcame a challenging semi-final match against Alejandro Tabilo, winning 1-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2.
Despite a dominant performance by Tabilo in the first set, Zverev managed to turn the match around in the second set tie-break and took control in the third set. "I was just hanging on in the second set. I brought my energy up. I was really just hanging on and waiting and the patience was kind of good today," Zverev said on court.
In the other semi-final, Nicolas Jarry defeated Tommy Paul 6-3, 6-7 (3/7), 6-3 to reach his first Masters 1000 final. Jarry, who is guaranteed to reach a career-high ranking of number 17, will face Zverev in the championship match on Sunday.

With this, the Chilean becomes the first player from his country to reach a Masters 1000 final since Fernando Gonzalez in Rome in 2007.
"I was able to come back with my tennis in the third set, play very aggressive. To finish the match is never easy but I made it through and it's an amazing feeling," said Jarry.
The women's doubles final will feature an Italian duo, Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini, who will face Coco Gauff and Erin Routliffe. The tournament was missing some of the top Italian players, such as Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini, who withdrew before the event started.
(Inputs from AFP)

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