German tennis star Alexander Zverev celebrated his birthday in style, clinching his third BMW Open title in Munich on Sunday. The 26-year-old defeated American Ben Shelton 6-2, 6-4 in a commanding performance.
Zverev, who previously lifted the trophy in 2017 and 2018, has now equaled fellow German Philipp Kohlschreiber’s record of three Munich titles. The home crowd favorite showed composure and skill, breaking early to dominate the first set.
“I knew I had to play my best tennis today,” Zverev said after the match. “Ben has been playing extremely well this week. The conditions suited both of us. It’s very special to win here on my birthday.”
Backed by strong support from the German fans, the top seed maintained momentum into the second set, securing an early break to keep Shelton at bay. This victory marks Zverev’s 24th career title and his first triumph of the season.
By winning the BMW Open, an ATP 250 event, Zverev adds another milestone to his career, becoming the first German to win the tournament three times since its upgrade. The win also signifies his sixth career title on home soil.
