(Tennis news) Alexander Zverev claimed his fifth tour level title this season after defeating 23 year old American qualifier Frances Tiafoe 7-5, 6-4. Despite very little to separate the two, it was Germany’s Zverev who took the lead in the 12th game of the first set and went on to dominate the match which saw the 24 year old hitting eight aces.

“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. I think the Olympics gave me a lot of confidence and I believe I can compete for any title that I play in,” Zverev added. “I am happy with the form I am in but I have got two more massive weeks ahead of me and I hope I can do well.”

Frances Tiafoe had a fantastic comeback from a set and 2-5 down against Italian Jannik Sinner was unable to match the sheer aggressiveness of Zverev to get a victory. The World Number 49 has had a good season with 29 tour-level victories and was looking forward to his first tour-level trophy since Delray Beach in 2018. “I knew I was capable of a week like this,” Tiafoe said. “It is not easy to beat good player after good player. These guys are so good. To have a week like this and know you can do it and not just beat one top player but three great guys is great.”

In other results, Former US Open champion Marin Cilic defeated Taylor Fritz 7-6 (7-3) 4-6 6-4 in the St. Petersburg final. Donna Vekic won her first title in more than four years by defeating Danish teenager Clara Tauson 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 at the Courmayeur Ladies Open while former World Number 1 Simona Halep lost to Anett Kontaveit 6-2 6-3, at the Transylvania Open.

Also read: Marin Cilic beats Taylor Fritz to triumph at St. Petersburg after a decade