Zverev Topples Tiafoe, Adds Vienna To List Of Titles

Alexander Zverev stopped the upset-minded hopes of Frances Tiafoe taking care of the American in the Vienna final 7-5, 6-4.

Tiafoe had authored huge wins over Stefanos Tsitsipas and Jannik Sinner coming in, but dropped his fourth straight to the German.

“He didn’t let me play the way I wanted to play, tactically he was very good,” Zverev said of the win. “But I am happy with the win and I am happy with my fifth title of the year and I am happy with my first in Vienna, so it was a good day.”

Zverev, who defeated Carlos Alcaraz and Felix Auger-Aliassime, improves to 6-1 lifetime against Tiafoe. And he’s won 25 of his last 27 matches including the Tokyo run to gold.

“I think the Olympics gave me a lot of confidence and I believe I can compete for any title that I play in,” he added. “I am happy with the form I am in but I have got two more massive weeks ahead of me and I hope I can do well.”

Zverev now has 18 career titles with five this year (he’s 5-0 in finals in 2021). His 52 match wins trails only Stefanos Tsitsipas’s 55 on the season.

The 23-year-old Tiafoe was appearing in his third career ATP final, first at the 500 level. He was seeking a second title after 2018 Delray Beach.

“I knew I was capable of a week like this,” Tiafoe said. “It is not easy to beat good player after good player. These guys are so good. To have a week like this and know you can do it and not just beat one top player but three great guys is great.”

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