ROME: Alexander Zverev secured his second Rome Open title by defeating Nicolas Jarry in straight sets 6-4, 7-5 in Sunday’s final.
The world number five, also the Foro Italico champion in 2017, clinched his sixth Masters 1000 title in the last major tournament before the French Open, slated to begin next weekend. This victory marked Zverev’s 11th Masters final, equaling Boris Becker’s record for the most by a German since 1990. In a match lasting one hour and 41 minutes, the 27-year-old German comfortably dispatched Chile’s Jarry, who couldn’t replicate his earlier heroics against Stefanos Tsitsipas and Tommy Paul in the quarter- and semi-finals, respectively.
Zverev’s triumph not only secured his first title of the year but also marked his first since triumphing in Chengdu last September. The tournament saw several top players exit early or withdraw before it began, including six-time Rome champion Novak Djokovic, who was eliminated in the third round by Zverev’s semi-final opponent, Alejandro Tabilo.
Last year’s winner Daniil Medvedev exited at the last-16 stage, while Italian stars Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz missed the event due to injury. Meanwhile, in the women’s doubles event, Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini delighted Italian fans by clinching the title, defeating Coco Gauff and Erin Routliffe 6-3, 4-6, 10-8 in a thrilling final.
