Return Winners: the 2017 ATP Rome final

Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic met in the 2017 Italian Open final.

Coming off a season that saw him beat Roger Federer on grass and capture his first title at the end of 2016 by defeating three-time major winner Stan Wawrinka in the final, expectations remained high for Alexander Zverev going into 2017.

And the young German did not disappoint.

After claiming both the singles and doubles crowns in Montpellier, France, then capturing another title during the spring on clay in Munich, Zverev entered the Italian Open rising up the rankings as the 16th seed. After battling through a three-setter in the first round, he won his next three matches in straight sets, then went the distance again in the semis to advance to his first career Masters final.

There, he would face Novak Djokovic, the second seed and four-time tournament champion. Playing some of his best tennis of the year, the Serb didn’t drop a set on his way to the final as he defeated a slew of clay-court standouts, including Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem.

Having played three of the ATP’s “Big 4” previously, Zverev came into the match with a 1-3 combined record against Andy Murray, Federer and Nadal, with the Spaniard having just taught him a lesson in clay-court tennis a few weeks prior in Monte Carlo. Facing Djokovic for the first time in the biggest match of his life, Zverev got off to a perfect start as he broke the Serb in the opening game, then consolidated with a hold to go up 2-0. Serving at a high quality throughout the first set, that first break was all Zverev needed to win the frame 6-4.

In the second, Djokovic once again came under pressure early on his serve, with Zverev getting a break to take a 2-1 lead. Aggressive returning from the 20-year-old had the world No. 2 feeling the heat, and as he served down 3-5, Djokovic double-faulted to set up match point for the German. When Djokovic missed on his last backhand, Zverev clinched his first Masters title and another bonus: a place in the world’s top 10 for the first time.

1

Zverev became the first German male to win the event in tournament history.

4

This was Djokovic’s fourth loss in the final, the second-most championship matches he dropped at a Masters event after five in Cincinnati. He had four titles at the tournament to offset those losses, as opposed to no victories in Cincinnati.

'03

The last time a player reached the finals in Munich and Rome in the same season was 2003, when Roger Federer won in the German city, but lost the Italian Open final to Felix Mantilla.