🎂 Birthday Bliss: Zverev Cruises Past Shelton to Win Third BMW Open Title in Munich

Germany’s No. 1 celebrates turning 28 with a flawless performance and 24th career title. VYUB

Talk about the perfect birthday gift.

On his 28th birthday, Alexander Zverev treated himself to a dominant 6-2, 6-4 win over Ben Shelton in the final of the 2025 BMW Open, lifting the trophy on home soil for the third time in his career. The victory also marks his first ATP title of the season and a return to top form just in time for the European clay court swing.

A German Masterclass in Munich

Playing in front of an electric Munich crowd—including special guest and football icon Thomas Müller—Zverev needed just 71 minutes to dismantle the hard-hitting American. The World No. 3 didn’t face a single break point all afternoon, showcasing the kind of dominance that saw him reach the Roland Garros final last year.

“It’s probably the most special thing I can do—win at home, on my birthday. Definitely the best present I could ask for,” Zverev said with a smile after the match.

Zverev’s Clay-Court Comfort on Full Display

While both players battled through tight matches earlier in the week, Zverev’s clay-court experience ultimately gave him the edge. He opened both sets with service breaks and maintained control from start to finish.

Zverev won 89% of points on his first serve, committed just 7 unforced errors, and converted 3 of 6 break points. In contrast, Shelton’s nerves got the better of him, with two key double faults helping Zverev gain early leads in each set.

Now 2-0 in head-to-head matchups against Shelton, Zverev also extends his impressive record against left-handers to 29 wins in his last 30 matches.

Third Time’s a Charm in Munich

This is Zverev’s third career BMW Open title, having previously won the tournament in 2017 and 2018. It also marks his 24th ATP Tour title overall, with six of them coming on home soil in Germany.

With the win, Zverev gains valuable momentum heading into the clay court season, where eyes will be on him at Madrid, Rome, and Roland Garros—tournaments where he’s consistently performed well.