By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, November 18, 2018
A dynamic Alexander Zverev broke Novak Djokovic four times dismantling the world No. 1, 6-4, 6-3, to capture the biggest title of his career at the Nitto ATP Finals.
Photo credit: ATP World Tour Facebook
Blue-and-white confetti clung to Alexander Zverev's curls like a champion's halo while a glowing grin was plastered across his face.
In a pyrotechnic power display, the 21-year-old Zverev defused Novak Djokovic with stunning command, 6-4, 6-3, charging to the biggest championship of his career at the Nitto ATP Finals.
Watch: Zverev Powers Past Federer
Sprinting left, Zverev bolted a backhand pass down the line, then collapsed to the blue O2 Arena court with joy after dismantling the the world No. 1 in a masterclass of power and poise to become the first German to capture the season-ending title since Boris Becker in 1995.
Zverev is the youngest ATP Finals champion since a 21-year-old Djokovic defeated Nikolay Davydenko to raise the 2008 title.
The man who heard boos in the aftermath of his semifinal victory over Roger Federer yesterday, turned jeers to cheers today. Zverev shut down the game's premier returners serving 71 percent, slashing 10 aces and facing just one break point.
"I'm unbelievably happy," Zverev told the crowd. "Obviously, the biggest trophy that I've ever won. [My dad's] not going to stop crying until next year, but that's fine."
Denying Djokovic's bid to claim his record-tying sixth ATP Finals title, Zverev charmed the crowd with a lengthy and detailed victory speech.
"Obviously, you could win any match you want, but I appreciate you letting me win one today," Zverev told Djokovic.
It is Zverev's fourth title of the year as he wraps 2018 with an ATP-best 58-19 record.
It's a rousing reversal of fortune for Zverev, who absorbed a 6-4, 6-1 drubbing from Djokovic in Wednesday's round-robin match.
The Wimbledon champion had not dropped a set or serve en route to the final, but Zverev broke the Serbian's serve four times, won 15 of 23 points played on Djokovic's second serve and fearlessly stood toe-to-toe with the top seed banging through longer rallies.
"I tried to be more and more aggressive tried to even keep the ball in rallies sometimes more," Zverev told ESPN's Brad Gilbert afterward. "I tried to focus from the beginning to the end. I kind of went away in the second set of the first match. I tried to do my best. I'm really happy with the outcome."
Contesting his first year-end final, Zverev turned London into a launching pad completing a mission impossible. The fourth-ranked Zverev beat two iconic champions who had combined to claim 11 ATP Finals championships—Federer and Djokovic—back-to-back disarming two of the world's top three with a devastating serve and dangerous return game.
The 6'6" German, who averaged 135 mph on first serve in his semifinal sweep of Federer, kept the gas coming against Djokovic. Zverev roared through a two-ace game, including a 141 mph missile, leveling for 3-all.
The serve and forehand are Zverev's biggest weapons, but he showed fine touch gliding forward to carve a clever underspin volley winner. Through four service games, Zverev permitted just three points evening the final, 4-4.
Answering the Serbian's slice with a soft slice approach of his own, Zverev earned an errant pass for 15-30. Curling a crosscourt return, Zverev drew a wild forehand down the line to earn break point.
Djokovic, who had held serve in all 40 of his tournament service games to that point, blinked.
Slapping a forehand into net, the Serbian dropped serve in the ninth game.
Serving for the set, Zverev reduced the game's greatest returner to spectator with a rocket-launcher barrage. Zverev unloaded three straight aces for triple-set point. On his second set point, Zverev closed the 39-minute opener when Djokovic scattered a forehand.
The elastic Djokovic has an eye-popping ability to block back stretched replies. You can't hit what you can't see and Zverev's blurring serve was basically a sound at that point.
Pumping pace with purpose, Zverev served 86 percent, slashed seven aces and won 17 of 20 first-serve points in a dominant opening set.
Equally unsettling for the Wimbledon winner was the fact Zverev was starting to win longer rallies. Djokovic dodged a break point, but missed his trademark two-hander to face a second break point.
In a crackling corner-to-corner rally that followed, Zverev stepped up and scalded a searing forehand down the line breaking for the second straight time to start the second set.
Members of Zverev's team leaped from their seats in celebration, but Djokovic made a stand in game two.
Staggering through a two-double fault game, Zverev gave back the break with his poorest service game of the day.
Blowing his nose at times between points, Djokovic bent over gulping breath after one grueling baseline exchange and struggled to shake off the biting drives of his 21-year-old opponent.
Driving the ball deep and often playing down the middle to deny Djokovic access to angles, Zverev drew a netted forehand for his third consecutive break and a 2-1 lead.
It wasn't surprising Zverev wasn't giving Djokovic much sniff on serve, but it was startling to see the third seed give the world No. 1 the runaround. Zverev was winning most of the longer exchanges extending the lead to 4-2, while Djokovic lacked the spring in his step he showed winning 26 of his last 27 matches.
Dumping his first double fault of the day, Djokovic followed with a floated backhand to face double championship point.
In a crackling rally that followed, Zverev straddled the baseline then stepped up and curled a backhand pass down the line sealing his biggest career championship in style.
A day after hearing jeers, Zverev showed a champion's class and charm thanking fans for supporting the tournament in its 10th year at the O2 Arena.
"I wasn't done yet, but thanks for the champagne. I wasn't going to get drunk just yet," Zverev joked after his microphone was mistakenly cut off. "I want to thank the crowd. Even though we had a bit of a moment yesterday I still appreciate every single one of you coming out and supporting and showing so much love for the sport it's such a pleasure to play in front of an amazing crowd so thanks."
It will be a pleasure to see Zverev and fellow NextGen Stars Stefanos Tsitsipas and Karen Khachanov continue to assert their voices in an ongoing championship conversation with icons Djokovic, Federer and Rafael Nadal in 2019.