Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz win ATP Tour titles
- Doug Mattushek
- 31 July 2023
Alexander Zverev won the Hamburg Open while Taylor Fritz was crowned Atlanta Open champion in Sunday's ATP action.
Zverev produced some blistering shots in his 7-5 6-3 win over Laslo Djere on the clay courts of Hamburg in Germany on Sunday for his 20th ATP title and his first silverware since November 2021.
"At the end of the day, this is my home, this is where I grew up, and this where I started playing tennis," said Zverev, who was seriously injured in the 2022 French Open semi-finals.
"It was incredible for me, incredibly emotional. I can't describe it in words, I'm just super happy right now. It's almost like a first [title] again, It's such a long time [since my previous title], 18 months, and I'm just super happy right now."
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic Ocean in Atlanta, USA, Taylor Fritz survived a second-set comeback from Australian Aleksandar Vukic to win 7-7 6-7(5), 6-4 to lift the ATP 250 trophy.
"I've played this tournament five times before and [made] the semis [in 2021] and final [in 2019]. I feel like I've always been close so it's nice, I don't think I could've handled another loss in the final," said the world number nine.
"It feels really good to get the job done."
Over in Umag, Croatia, Alexei Popyrin denied veteran Stan Wawrinka a 17th ATP title when he came back from a set down to beat the three-time grand slam winner 6-7(5) 6-3 6-4.
Popyrin looked on the verge of retirement after suffering from severe cramps in the deciding set, but rallied to go for broke in every rally, overpowering Wawrinka.
"I even told the physio when he came out... he said, 'If you go any more then it will be tough'," recollected the Australian.
"I said, 'There's no point in quitting now, I'm here in the final. If I lose, I lose. If I retire, I lose anyway. So I have a better chance of winning if I stay in', so that's what I decided to do."
