The Baseline Player of the Week: Alexander Zverev

May 22, 2017
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The Baseline Player of the Week: Alexander Zverev

His first ATP Masters 1000 title earns the German the honors agai

Published May 22, 2017

Every week Baseline will select a “Player of the Week.” That athlete may not always win the highest category tournament that week, but perform the best compared to their recent playing history.

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It is no secret that Alexander Zverev is one of the most promising future Grand Slam contenders on tour. Last week in Rome, the 20-year-old proved that he is already one of the best in the world by defeating Novak Novak Djokovic, 6-4, 6-3, in Sunday's final.

The German became the first player born after 1988 to win an ATP Masters 1000 crown.

Ironically enough, Zverev’s victory made him the youngest since Djokovic to win a Masters title.

"It's such an honor being on the court against one of the best ever players," Zverev said. "If I have half the career Novak has had, I will be just fine."

His stunning performance against Djokovic also made Zverev the youngest player since Juan Martin del Potro in 2008 to break into the Top 10.

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The new world No. 10 beat four Top-30 players and two Top 10-ranked opponents during the week: Djokovic and No. 6 Milos Raonic, last year’s Wimbledon finalist.

Nobody would have blamed Zverev if he had lost to Djokovic. The world No. 2 seemed rejuvenated after a disappointing start to the season, crushing an in-form Dominic Thiem, 6-1, 6-0, in the semifinals.

After the Thiem match, which Djokovic said was, “probably the best tennis I have played in the last ten months,” all signs pointed toward the Serbian winning his first title since Doha in January.

But Zverev never gave Djokovic a chance to find his game. While the defending French Open champion did not play his best tennis, credit goes to Zverev for being locked in from the get-go. He broke Djokovic—who was attempting to win his 31st ATP Masters 1000 tournament—right away, and never looked back.

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Despite this being his fourth career title, Zverev has yet to reach the fourth round at a Grand Slam. But if his performance last week is any indication, it will be shocking if Zverev does not race into the second week.