Alexander Zverev celebrated his 28th birthday in style by capturing his third BMW Open title in Munich, defeating American Ben Shelton 6–2, 6–4 in a commanding performance. The victory marked Zverev’s 24th career ATP Tour title and his first of the 2025 season. With this win, he reclaims the World No. 2 ranking, surpassing Carlos Alcaraz.
Zverev’s dominance was evident throughout the match, as he won 89% of his first-serve points and did not face a single break point. He broke Shelton’s serve early in both sets, maintaining control and composure to secure the straight-sets victory.
“I lost many matches that I should have won”
Reflecting on his performance, Zverev expressed satisfaction with his game, stating, “When my serve is running, the whole game will come after.” He also highlighted the significance of his quarterfinal comeback against Tallon Griekspoor, noting, “I won a match in the quarterfinals that I should have lost. In the past few weeks, it has been the other way around: I lost many matches that I should have won.”
The BMW Open’s elevation to an ATP 500 event this year added prestige to Zverev’s triumph, making him the first German to win the upgraded tournament. The victory also ties him with fellow German Philipp Kohlschreiber for the most Munich titles in the Open Era, each with three.
Looking ahead, Zverev aims to build on this momentum as he prepares for the upcoming Masters 1000 events in Madrid and Rome, and ultimately, Roland Garros. He remains focused on capturing his first Grand Slam title, a goal that has eluded him despite previous final appearances. “I’m doing everything I can,” Zverev said. “I’m working as hard as I ever did. I think I’m doing all the right things off court.”
With his Munich victory, Zverev sends a clear message to the tennis world: he’s back in top form and ready to contend for the sport’s biggest prizes.