New Delhi: World No.3 Alexander Zverev gifted himself the perfect birthday present on Sunday lifting the BMW Open trophy for a third time after a commanding 6-2, 6-4 win over Ben Shelton in the final. The German turned 28 in style as he delivered a composed and clinical performance in front of a roaring Munich crowd to claim his 24th tour-level title and first of the 2025 season.
Playing in his home country clearly brought the best out of Zverev, who remained unbroken throughout the match and rarely looked troubled on serve. In fact, the No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings didn’t face a single break point in the 71-minute final, showing just how dialled in he was against the American.
The moment @AlexZverev won his first #BMWOpen title since 2018 🏆 pic.twitter.com/RVBVorX1TH
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 20, 2025
“It’s always special to win in Germany,” Zverev said after the match. “Doing it on my birthday makes it even better. I couldn’t ask for more today.”
Matching a national milestone
Zverev now joins fellow German Philipp Kohlschreiber as a three-time winner in Munich, having previously lifted the title in 2017 and 2018. His latest triumph also marks his sixth career title on home soil, a tally that includes last year’s victory in Hamburg. Importantly, this year’s Munich edition was elevated to ATP 500 status for the first time, and Zverev made sure a German walked away with the title.
Not a bad Birthday present 🏆
On his 28th Birthday @AlexZverev lifts his 6th ATP 500 level title 💪#BMWOpen pic.twitter.com/g6H0Tijg1H
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 20, 2025
The victory was a much-needed boost for Zverev, who had struggled for consistency since reaching the Australian Open final earlier this year. Heading into Munich, he had lost six of his last 12 matches, including early exits at Indian Wells and Monte-Carlo, where he entered as the top seed. But the German turned things around this week, showing glimpses of the form that has made him one of the tour’s most consistent performers over the last decade.
Shelton’s historic run ends in heartbreak
Shelton was appearing in his fourth ATP final and his first ever on clay at a level above ATP 250. While the 22-year-old American showed flashes of the aggressive tennis that got him to the final, he struggled to find rhythm against Zverev’s rock-solid baseline game. Two double faults while facing break points in the opening set proved costly, and he was never quite able to recover.
Still, Shelton’s run was historic in its own right. He became the first American to reach a clay-court final above the ATP 250 level since Andre Agassi’s triumph in Rome back in 2002. His efforts have pushed him to No. 13 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, just one spot shy of his career-best.
Looking ahead
“I feel really blessed to play in front of this crowd on Easter Sunday,” Shelton said during the trophy ceremony. “Happy birthday Sascha. I didn’t even know it was your birthday—if I did, maybe I would’ve said the trophy was a gift! I really tried to return your serves, but today it was just too tough.”
Zverev’s latest success gives him his sixth ATP 500 title, adding Munich to a list that includes Washington, Acapulco, Vienna, and Hamburg. If Carlos Alcaraz loses to Holger Rune in the Barcelona final, Zverev could also leap back into the No. 2 spot in the rankings—a further boost in what’s shaping up to be a strong clay season. For now, Zverev will enjoy this moment, surrounded by home fans and his growing legacy on German soil.
Alexander Zverev secures his third Munich title on his 28th birthday, defeating Ben Shelton in straight sets to claim his first ATP trophy of 2025. Tennis Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
