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Alexander Zverev has recently been consistently at the top level again
Photo: Frank Franklin II / dpa
Second tournament victory this year: Alexander Zverev secured the title in Chengdu, China. The 26-year-old Olympic tennis champion prevailed in the final on Tuesday 6: 7 (2: 7), 7: 6 (7: 5), 6: 3 against Roman Safiullin from Russia and celebrated his 21st success at ATP level. In July, he had already triumphed in his home town of Hamburg.
Against outsider Safiullin, Zverev had to prove strong nerves: The lost first set was followed by a break deficit in the second. After almost three hours, Zverev fought down the number 43 in the world.
ATP Finals within reach
For Zverev, the success also means that participation in the ATP Finals from November 12 to 19 in Turin is becoming increasingly likely. In the ranking of the best of the year, the German number one is in seventh place after winning the tournament - the best eight professionals qualify for the prestigious end of the year, which Zverev won in 2018 and 2021.
Zverev made his comeback on the tour in Chengdu after suffering a thigh injury in the quarterfinals of the US Open against Carlos Alcaraz in early September. He will continue in the coming days at the tournament in Beijing, which begins on Thursday. His first opponent was the Argentinian Diego Schwartzman.
CEV/SID/DPA