By Chris Oddo | Sunday June 20, 2016
World No. 192 Florian Mayer captured his first title in nearly five years at Halle, defeating Alexander Zverev in three sets.
Photo Source: Thomas Starke/Bongarts/p>
Florian Mayer won his first title in Bucharest in September of 2011. Since that time the former World No. 18 has seen more of the physio table than the trophy ceremony, but on Sunday in Halle, Germany at the Gerry Weber Open the crafty German completed an improbable run to earn the biggest title of his career.
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Mayer, playing the tournament on a protected ranking, defeated rising 19-year-old Alexander Zverev, 6-2, 5-7, 6-3, converting his 5th championship match point before dropping to the grass in disbelief.
After dominating for much of the match, Mayer lost the script late in the second set just as the fearless Zverev hit his stride.
On the cusp of the title, Mayer missed out on two championship points late in the second set while Zverev served at 4-5, 15-40. Zverev, who was bidding to become the youngest ATP title winner in over eight years after stunning Roger Federer in the semifinals on Saturday, played decisive tennis in those tense moments, and used his momentum to secure a break for 6-5 in the next game.
Zverev has nearly doubled his win total from 2015, and he showed his big-match promise as he harnessed his fiery emotions to close out the second set while furiously exhorting the crowd.
But Mayer was unrelenting in his pursuit of the title. He did not cower after dropping the middle set and instead got back to the business of playing his best and brightest tennis down the stretch. A healthy mix of drop shots, leaping two-handed backhands and big serves kept his opponent off balance, and when Zverev let his guard down midway through the stanza, Mayer pounced with a break at love in the sixth game as a Zverev backhand sailed wide.
The 32-year-old German never looked back.
The world No. 192 is the lowest-ranked ATP titlist in over three years. He was stuck outside the Top 200 for nearly 16 month while trying to rehab various injuries, but it all came together on one magical Sunday for Mayer.