Teen star Alexander Zverev claimed the first title of his young career on Sunday in dramatic fashion, snapping top seed Stan Wawrinka’s unbeaten streak in finals that dated back over three years to claim the St. Petersburg Open. An inspired performance from the young German saw him hold off the three-time Grand Slam champion for more than two hours before making his move late in the final set to score the shocking upset.

Zverev weathers early storm

As expected, it was Wawrinka, the heavy favourite in the final, who seemed in control early in the match. The top seed held a break point in the opening game, followed that with a hold to love before holding two more break points in the following return game. But despite the early opportunities, Wawrinka was unable to take advantage and found himself stuck on serve.

Stan Wawrinka hits a backhand. Photo: St. Petersburg Open
Stan Wawrinka hits a backhand. Photo: St. Petersburg Open

After hanging in through a tough start to the set, Zverev started to turn the tables. He held a break point of his own in the fourth game. After battling through two deuces in his next service games, the young German pounced on his second break point to take a 4-2 lead. After a hold to love of his own, Zverev raced ahead 0-40 as Wawrinka served to stay in the set and converted his first set point to take the early lead.

Wawrinka races back

Not seemingly deterred after dropping the opening set, Wawrinka was quick to take control in the second set. The Swiss raced ahead 15-40 in the third game and, despite missing both those break points and two more at 40-AD, the Swiss would take the lead with a break at the fifth time of asking. After the break, both men held comfortably until Zverev found himself serving to stay in the set much. Wawrinka would return the favour from the opening set, breaking the German to take it and send the match to a decider.

Zverev battles back for title

Wawrinka appeared to be well on his way to the title when he broke Zverev in the second game of the decider and consolidated with a hold to love to take a 3-0 lead. But the young German was not discouraged, as he would roar right back, breaking in the fifth game and levelling the set at 3-3.

Zverev hits a serve. Photo: St. Petersburg Open
Zverev hits a serve. Photo: St. Petersburg Open

The set progressed with both men holding their serves, but not without facing pressure. In each man’s fifth service game, they were pushed to deuce but did not have to face a break point. In the 11th game, the three-time major champion blinked. Wawrinka blew a 40-15 lead and found himself down break point. Attempting to serve out the first title of his career, Zverev showed guts, racing ahead 40-0 and converting his second match point to score an upset for his first title.

By the numbers

Zverev managed to claim victory despite six double faults. The two men’s serve statistics were near identical, with both men winning 67 percent of their first serve points, Wawrinka taking 48 percent of his second serves while Zverev won 52 percent of his. Zverev actually had to play 26 more points on his own serve than his opponent. However, he was far more efficient on break points, winning four of his five break points. Wawrinka will be left to regret missing eight of 11 break points.

The title was the first of Zverev’s career in his third final, with all those finals coming in 2016. Wawrinka falls to 4-1 in finals in 2016. The loss was his first in a final since June 2013, having won his last 11 in a row.

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About the author
Pete Borkowski
Tennis has always been my obsession. What better way to channel that obsession than writing about it? After 18 months of blogging with Sportsblog.com as the writer of A Fan Obsesseds blog, all the while completing my Bachelors in history and French, I joined VAVEL so that I can better share my love and knowledge of tennis with the world.