Alexander Zverev equals Boris Becker’s record to set up Rome final with Nicolas Jarry
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Germany's Alexander Zverev celebrates his win against Alejandro Tabilo of Chile.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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ROME – Alexander Zverev equalled Boris Becker’s record by reaching an 11th Masters final on May 17, when he ended the giant-killing run of Alejandro Tabilo at the Italian Open to set up a title showdown with Nicolas Jarry.
The world No. 5, who lifted the Rome trophy in 2017, battled back to see off Tabilo 1-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 to tie Becker’s record for the most Masters finals by a German since the series began in 1990.
The third seed – who won five of his previous 10 Masters finals – looked like he would become the latest high-ranking victim of an unusual men’s tournament when he was battered in a sensational opening set.
But the 27-year-old battled back, and after coming through a tight second set, his class eventually showed, making the final at the Foro Italico for the third time.
“I was just hanging on in the second set. I brought my energy up. I was really just hanging on and waiting and the patience was kind of good today,” Zverev said on court.
“He hit me off the court in the first set and I did not play well at all, but he was a big reason why. He gave me no rhythm and I am happy I turned it around in the tiebreak and ran away in the third set.”
Tabilo’s run to the last four had become one of the stories of a tournament which lost a host of top players either to pre-event injuries or shock early eliminations.
The 26-year-old Chilean defeated world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the round of 32.
The world No. 32 showed little fear of Zverev until he began to play more passively in the second set tiebreak.
Zverev will be a big favourite to win the championship match on May 19 when he faces Tabilo’s countryman Jarry, who won his first Masters 1000 semi-final against American Tommy Paul 6-3, 6-7 (3-7), 6-3.
Jarry is guaranteed to move up to a career-high No. 17 in the world rankings after reaching his seventh ATP final. He is hunting his fourth tour title.
In the women’s final on May 18, world No. 1 Iga Swiatek defeated world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus 6-2, 6-3 in one hour and 29 minutes.
The Pole’s 12th straight win on clay resulted in her third Italian Open title. She did not drop a single set in Rome in 2024.
Swiatek is only the third player in history to win the Madrid-Rome double after Dinara Safina in 2009 and Serena Williams in 2013. AFP
