Turin (Italy), Nov 10 (UNI) The two-time champion, Alexander Zverev, produced a commanding display in Turin, defeating American debutant Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6(6) to open his 2025 campaign with a statement victory.
Zverev was competing for the first time since suffering an ankle injury in a heavy semi-final loss to Jannik Sinner at the Rolex Paris Masters just eight days ago. Even when facing two set points after Shelton found a resurgence to move 6/4 ahead in the second-set tie-break, the German kept his cool to move to 1-0 in the Bjorn Borg Group, according to the ATP website.
“He’s an unbelievably aggressive player. Probably one of the most aggressive in the world,” said Zverev about Shelton. “In the tie-break, he started amazingly. Yes, I missed maybe one or two first serves, and the passing shot he hit (at 5/4) was ridiculous. I felt like I had to control the things that I could control, and I was doing them well.”
“At the end of the day, when the point is on his serve, it is always in his control. When I get the return and in the rally, then I can do something. I did that well at the end of the tie-break, and I’m super happy with that win.”
Zverev’s strategic focus on Shelton’s second nerve paid off amazingly, as he won 76 percent (16/21) of those points. Although Shelton managed to push Zverev in the second set, even holding two set points at 6/4 in the tie break, he faltered under pressure, netting a forehand at 6/5 to allow Zverev to close out the match in straight sets.
Despite frequently coming under pressure on his serve throughout the second set and being forced to save two break points at 2-2, Shelton competed admirably to keep Zverev on his toes and force a tie-break.
Zverev, who lifted the Nitto ATP Finals in 2018 in London and in 2021 in Turin, is now aiming to become just the eighth man to win the prestigious year-end title three times.
With Sunday’s win, Zverev extended his unbeaten record against Shelton to 5-0 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Shelton. Four of those victories have come in 2025, with the German prevailing against the American lefty this year in the Munich final, the Stuttgart semi-finals, and the Cincinnati quarter-finals.
