Alexander Zverev boosts ATP Final hopes after clinching Hamburg Open title

Alexander Zverev (Pic: AFP)

Alexander Zverev won the Hamburg European Open for the first time by beating Laslo Djere 7-5, 6-3.

It's the 26-year-old Zverev's first title since winning in Turin, Italy, in November 2021 and he achieved it without dropping a set at his hometown tournament.

"I was born here, I grew up on these courts, I first picked up a tennis racket in Hamburg, so to win here is bigger than winning a regular ATP event," Zverev told his fans.

The fourth-seeded Zverev began the week denying allegations of assault after the public prosecutor's office in Berlin applied for a penalty order to be made against him. Zverev said the matter was being handled by his lawyers.

"It's almost like a first again," said the 20-time tour-level champion Zverev. "It's such a long time, 18 months, and I'm just super happy right now. I think he was the much better player throughout the first set. I just kind of stuck with it and dug it out somehow. Credit to him, he's one of the most respected guys on Tour, he's doing all the right things. At the end, I'm just happy that it went the way it went," he added.

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Winning his 20th tour-level title at home has also boosted his hopes of qualifying for the upcoming 2023 Nitto ATP Finals. Zverev, who is a two-time champion at the prestigious season finale, has risen three spots to ninth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin with his title run, although Taylor Fritz can reclaim ninth place with victory in the Atlanta Open final later on Sunday.

Zverev progressed to the final with wins over Alex Molcan, Maximilian Marterer, Luca van Assche, and Arthur Fils. He converted three of his four break points to beat the 57th-ranked Djere in 1 hour, 50 minutes.

Meanwhile, Dutch player Arantxa Rus won the women's title on Saturday.

(With agency inputs)