From '1,000 kilometers away from the top,' Alexander Zverev takes Geneva WC

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World no. 22 Alexander Zverev has taken the ATP 250 Geneva wild card, competing in Switzerland next week and shaping up his form ahead of Roland Garros. Zverev experienced another blow at the Rome Masters, losing to Daniil Medvedev in the fourth round in straight sets. Thus, the German lost points for the last year's Foro Italico run and will drop out from the top-25 for the first time since September 2016! Zverev injured his ankle against Rafael Nadal in the last year's epic Roland Garros semi-final. From world no. 1 contender, Alexander had to miss the rest of the season, making a fresh start in 2023 but still seeking his A-game. The German is yet to beat a top-10 rival this season, and the most recent loss came against Medvedev at Foro Italico. Zverev wanted another chance to play competitive matches ahead of Paris, so he signed to play in Geneva for the second time. The German competed in Switzerland in 2019 and lifted the trophy.

Alexander Zverev will compete in Geneva next week.

In a rain-delayed final, Zverev ousted Nicolas Jarry 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 in two hours and 35 minutes, saving two match points in the deciding tie break to celebrate the title. The top seed won six points more, fending off six out of seven break points and creating 12 opportunities on the return. The German converted only and had to go through ups and downs in the deciding tie break before bringing the encounter home. Zverev made the best start, dropping three points behind the initial shot in the opening set and mounting the pressure on the other side. Jarry was far from that pace, losing serve in game two following a terrible forehand and facing seven break points in the rest of the set. He fended them off to stay within one break deficit, settling into a nice rhythm ahead of set number two. Nicolas controlled his strokes nicely in the rest of the match, dropping only eight points behind the initial shot in the second set and opening a 5-2 advantage before the rain sent them off the court.

Alexander saved three set points in the eighth game once they returned, and the Chilean grabbed a set with a hold at love a few minutes later with a service winner. The final set lasted for 75 minutes, and it went down to the wire after no breaks of serve. Zverev opened a 5-2 and 6-4 lead in the breaker and moved closer to the finish line. Firing one big shot after another, Jarry repelled both match points with winners and created the first match point after Zverev's double fault. The Chilean wasted it when his volley failed to cross the net before another powerful forehand sent him 8-7 up. It was not to be for him on the second match point, netting an easy forehand to keep Zverev alive. Alexander painted a perfect backhand down the line winner for his third match point and converted it when Nicolas' forehand landed long to celebrate his first title in six months!

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