Zverev beats Jarry to claim second Rome Open title

Germany’s Alexander Zverev (R) poses with the trophy after winning the Men’s final against Chile’s Nicolas Jarry (L) at the ATP Rome Open tennis tournament at Foro Italico in Rome on May 19, 2024. (Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP)

Alexander Zverev won his second Rome Open title after beating Nicolas Jarry in straight sets 6-4, 7-5 in Sunday’s final.

World number five Zverev, also Foro Italico champion in 2017, comfortably won his sixth Masters 1000 title in the last major tournament before the French Open, which gets underway next weekend.

The 27-year-old succeeded in his 11th Masters final which equalled Boris Becker’s record for the most by a German since the series began in 1990.

He comfortably beat Chile’s Jarry, who could not repeat his quarter- and semi-final heroics against Stefanos Tsitsipas and Tommy Paul, in one hour and 41 minutes.

Zverev claimed his first title of the year and first since winning at Chengdu in September at the end of an unusual men’s tournament in which a host of top names were either eliminated early of dropped out before the start of the event.

Six-time Rome champion Novak Djokovic was dumped out in the third round by Zverev’s semi-final opponent, journeyman Alejandro Tabilo.

Last year’s winner, Daniil Medvedev, was stopped at the last-16 stage, while Italian world number two Jannik Sinner and third-ranked Carlos Alcaraz both missed the tournament with injuries.

Earlier, Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini gave Italian fans something to cheer about after beating Coco Gauff and Erin Routliffe to the women’s doubles title.

Unseeded Errani and Paolini made the Foro Italico crown roar by beating reigning US Open singles champions Gauff and Routliffe 6-3, 4-6, 10-8.

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