MONTPELLIER, February 12, 2017

Alexander Zverev captured his second career title on the ATP World Tour, winning Sunday’s final of the €540,310 Open Sud De France in Montpellier against local favourite Richard Gasquet 7-6, 6-3.

The 19-year-old from Hamburg, who entered the tournament with a wild card, sent down eight aces, winning 80 per cent of his first service points to secure victory in one hour and 28 minutes.

“It was a difficult match,” said Gasquet. “It was close during the first set. I had a bad start, he quickly broke me at the beginning of the match. It’s not easy to break such a good player twice. I managed to come back, but he broke again. I made a few mistakes. He hits the ball really hard on both sides and has a pretty incredible service. He deserves his victory today. But overall I’m happy about this week.”

Zverev takes away €85,945 in prize money as well as 250 ATP ranking points and is projected to rise to a new career high World No. 18 on Monday. The NextGen star also surges to No. 1 in the ATP Race to Milan.

“I’m very happy to win my first title of the year,” said Zverev. “Obviously it was a very tough tournament, only one straight-sets match in the whole tournament, today, and it was not an easy one. I think it was a high-level match and I’m happy to get the win.”

Zverev has now become the seventh teenager with multiple ATP singles title since 2000, joining an elite club of Lleyton Hewitt, Andy Roddick, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Juan Martin del Potro.

Zverev Bros. Take Doubles Crown

Later the day, Alexander even took the doubles title by teaming up with his older brother Mischa. The Zverevs defeated Frenchman Fabrice Martin and Daniel Nestor from Canada 6-4, 6-7, 10-7. The encounter lasted one hour and 26 minutes. The teenager lifted his first doubles trophy. Mischa Zverev gained his third ATP doubles title, following his 2008 triumphs in Halle and Tokyo alongside Russian veteran Mikhail Youzhny.

“It was an amazing week,” said Mischa. “Congrats to my brother, winning singles and doubles for the first time. It’s always special playing doubles with him, especially playing well and winning. I’m really, really happy. I didn’t expect it.”

Alexander added: “It’s great to win singles and doubles. I’m very happy the way we played. We only dropped one set in the tournament. I think it was a very successful tournament for the Zverevs.”