Vienna Open: Alexander Zverev beats Frances Tiafoe in straight sets to claim year's fifth title

Vienna: Alexander Zverev beat American qualifier Frances Tiafoe 7-5, 6-4 in the final of the Vienna ATP tournament on Sunday to claim his fifth title of the year. The German second seed ran his record since losing in the last 16 in Wimbledon in June to 25-2 as he won in one hour and 36 minutes. He has claimed all five finals that he has competed in this year with earlier titles coming in Acapulco, Madrid, the Olympic Games and Cincinnati. “He didn’t let me play the way I wanted to play, tactically he was very good,” Zverev said. “But I am happy with the win and I am happy with my fifth title of the year and I am happy with my first in Vienna, so it was a good day.” Zverev broke in the fourth game of the first set but Tiafoe, the world number 49, immediately broke back. Zverev found the breakthrough in the tense 12th game which he took after three deuces. In the second set Zverev’s serve was rarely threatened as he produced eight aces, while he had break points against Tiafoe in the second and sixth games before finally making one count in the 10th game. He then held to love to seal the victory. Tiafoe had been aiming to win his first tour title since Delray Beach in 2018.