Zverev clinches sixth Masters 1000 crown in Rome

Alexander Zverev is an ATP Masters 1000 champion for the sixth time.

The German moved past first-time Masters 1000 finalist Nicolas Jarry 6-4, 7-5 on Sunday at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia to win the title in Rome for a second time.

Zverev will climb to No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings on Monday, with his Rome title the biggest he has earned since he suffered a catastrophic ankle injury in the Roland Garros semi-finals in 2022. Prior to Sunday, the 27-year-old’s most recent Masters 1000 triumph came in Cincinnati in 2021, while he also lifted the Nitto ATP Finals trophy in the same season.

"Obviously winning my first ever [Masters] here in Rome and winning my first after my injury also in Rome, so Rome is a very special place for me," Zverev said. "It is a very, very special week."

Zverev showed great athleticism to soak up Jarry's big hitting during the one-hour, 41-minute minute clash and he took large cuts off both wings to take time away from the Chilean, who was unable to find the required consistency in crucial moments.

"He is playing huge and you can see by the players he has beaten here this week," Zverev said when asked about Jarry. "Playing incredible tennis. I told him if he continues to play like that he will have many chances at this level. Today I am extremely happy to be the winner."

The 22-time tour-level champion was impressive throughout his run in the Italian capital, where he dropped just one set. The third seed also lifted the trophy at the clay-court event in 2017 when he was just 20 years old.

🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆@AlexZverev ends Jarry’s run in Rome with a 6-4 7-5 victory to win his 6th ATP Masters 1000 title!@InteBNLdItalia | #IBI24 pic.twitter.com/cuU4Knzkk3

— ATP Tour (@atptour) May 19, 2024

Competing in his 11th Masters 1000 final and first since Madrid in 2022, Zverev won 95 per cent (37/39) of his first-serve points according to Infosys ATP Stats. He returned with depth and consistency to foil the Chilean’s big serve, improving to 5-2 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

Zverev, who committed just eight unforced errors, squandered two match points on Jarry's serve at 5-4, before he eventually sealed victory on his fourth match point.

Jarry was competing in his first Masters 1000 title match, having defeated seeds Stefanos Tsitsipas and Tommy Paul en route. The 28-year-old, who is up to No. 17 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, was the first Chilean to reach a final at this level since Fernando Gonzalez in Rome in 2007.

The 21st seed has won tour-level titles at ATP 250 events in Bastad (2019), Santiago (2023) and Geneva (2023).