Ready for Stuttgart Finals: Zverev Chases Career Title Number 25
Zverev Advances to Stuttgart Final, Achievement of 25th Title Within Sight - Stuttgart Final Reached by Zverev, Marking His 25th Title Victory
Get ready for some top-tier tennis action in Stuttgart! Alexander Zverev is on a roll, just two victories away from his 25th career title. The 28-year-old German powerhouse is all set to face American Ben Shelton in the final on Saturday (14.00 Uhr/DF1). As he gears up for the match, Zverev remains chill, stating, "Whatever happens now, I'm moving in the right direction. Winning is always a blast, especially playing in Germany - it's always a treat to be on the court."
Zverev booked his place in the Stuttgart finals after a thrilling 7:5, 6:4 win against Brandon Nakashima in the quarterfinals.aja! This victory marked his fourth consecutive win against the young American and secured his place in the semifinals. Zverev himself was pleased with his performance, commenting, "It was a decent game, considering it was my second match on grass. The level was better today than yesterday, and I served, returned, and played better from the baseline."
A Bit of Humor Never Hurts
During the match, Zverev showed his lighter side after forgetting he'd previously defeated Nakashima three times. The press had to remind him, causing a laugh. "I guess I'm getting old," Zverev quipped.
In the early stages of the match, Zverev found himself struggling in the scorching heat against Justin Engel. He questioningly raised his arms and shook his head, but things turned around during the later stages, preventing a deciding tiebreak. Zverev took advantage of his opportunities in the second set, breaking to lead 3:2 and never looking back.
Zverev versus Becker - An Ongoing Discussion
The reunion of Zverev at the Weissenhof in six years has generated some tension between the current German number one and tennis legend Boris Becker. Becker criticized Zverev following his quarterfinal loss at the French Open against Serbian top star Novak Djokovic and suggested a coaching change. Zverev had already addressed this earlier in the week.
"We've probably already discussed this topic," Zverev said, explaining why he was surprised Becker hadn't reached out. "Normally, when he's at the same place where I am, he always contacts me. If you want to ask him about it, go ahead. I don't have any strong feelings about it."
A Standout Performance from Engel
The momentum of teenage tennis sensation Justin Engel came to a halt despite another impressive display. The 17-year-old lost to top-30 player Felix Auger-Aliassime 6:7 (3:7), 3:6 in the quarterfinals.
"It's nice to hear that Auger-Aliassime thinks I could be a real contender in the future," said Engel. "I'm just doing my best and taking away the lessons, knowing that hard work pays off. Now I move forward."
Engel gave a solid performance against the former top-ten player, staying close until midway through the second set. Ultimately, Auger-Aliassime's serves proved too strong. "He didn't give me many opportunities," said Engel. "But it was fun to play again."
Engel's stunning runs earned him the title of the youngest tour quarterfinalist on grass since Boris Becker's Wimbledon triumph 40 years ago. "Now I have a bit of pressure," Engel says, looking forward to his qualifying round in Halle on Saturday. His opponent, Auger-Aliassime, will play the other semifinal (12.00 Uhr) on the Stuttgart Weissenhof against American top-ten player Taylor Fritz.
- Alexander Zverev
- Stuttgart
- Germany
- Final
- Title Win
- Brandon Nakashima
- Ben Shelton
- French Open
- Boris Becker
- Justin Engel
- Felix Auger-Aliassime
- Grass-court
- Formula 1
- Tennis Legend
As the *Stuttgart Finals* approach, Alexander Zverev aims to bring home his 25th career title in tennis, a sport he's been excelling in. Meanwhile, Boris Becker, a tennis legend from Germany, continues their ongoing discussion about Zverev's performance, with Becker recently suggesting a coaching change.
