Tennis

Zverev rises to the occasion in Rome

Svitolina stuns Halep
Ukraine's Elina Svitolina staged a huge upset in the Italian Open final, defeating Simona Halep 7-5, 6-1 in Rome yesterday. PHOTO: REUTERS

Germany's Alexander Zverev stunned four-time Rome champion Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-3 to win his first Masters title on Sunday, confirming his status as a French Open dangerman.

The 20-year-old claimed his maiden Masters 1000 title after becoming the youngest player in a decade to reach a final at this level and will move to 10 in the world as a result.

But despite a clinical straight sets win over Austrian Dominic Thiem on Saturday, world number two Djokovic produced a flawed performance on centre court that saw him curse and swear as he struggled to find a way back into the match.

Zverev now has four career titles, three of which have come this year.

Earlier, Ukraine's Elina Svitolina continued her brilliant season with a clinical 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 upset win over injury-hit Simona Halep in the Italian Open final on Sunday.

Svitolina overcame a tough first set against the sixth-seeded Romanian to level the match in a fiercely contested second set.

Halep, who won the Madrid Open last week, needed treatment after going over on her right ankle in the second set as she hit a return from the baseline.

In the decider, the Romanian was visibly hurting and was helpless to prevent Svitolina from claiming her fourth title of the season.

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