One week after surrendering his world No. 2 ranking, Alexander Zverev made a resounding statement by capturing his third Munich Open title, defeating Ben Shelton in straight sets in front of his home crowd.
The win marks Zverev’s 24th career singles title and coincides with his 28th birthday—a timely celebration after a recent slip in the ATP rankings caused by Carlos Alcaraz’s triumph in Monte Carlo.
Shelton, despite the loss, showcased a strong tournament run, taking out Botic van de Zandschulp and Francisco Cerundolo en route to the final. However, he couldn’t replicate that form against the more experienced Zverev in Sunday’s final.
Zverev: “Ben is becoming one of the most dangerous players”
During the post-match ceremony, Zverev had nothing but praise for Shelton’s development, especially on clay—a surface once seen as a weakness for the American.
“Congratulations to Ben—an incredible week, incredible tennis,” said Zverev during his on-court interview. “I remember two years ago when you first came to Europe, you were struggling to win matches on clay. Now you’ve already got a clay title and reached the final of a 500 event. First American to do that in a long time.”
He continued by acknowledging Shelton’s support team, particularly his father and coach, Bryan Shelton:
“To the people in Ben’s box—your support is amazing. Pops, you’ve been everywhere, and you’ve got one of the best tennis minds I’ve seen. You’re helping him become one of the most dangerous players on every surface, and it’s great to witness that growth.”
Momentum Building Ahead of Roland Garros
Zverev’s dominant performance in Munich comes at a crucial time. Known for being a perennial contender at Grand Slams, he’s yet to claim a major title despite three final appearances. With Roland Garros on the horizon, the German looks increasingly poised to make a serious push.
Having held the world No. 2 spot for an extended period, Zverev’s recent drop to No. 3 might be the motivation he needed to refocus and chase that elusive Grand Slam crown.
At 28, the window for a major title remains open—but the pressure to finally deliver is mounting. Based on his current form, Zverev could be a real threat in Paris.
