Zverev’s second Madrid title

Final in Madrid.

2021 Mutua Madrid Open - an ATP Masters 1000 tournament, on Clay, in Madrid, Spain, 2-9 May 2021.

Event not held last year due to COVID-19.

2019 champion (not defending):

Novak Djokovic (1) who defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas (8) 6-3 6-4

Final:

Alexander Zverev (5) (Germany) v Matteo Berrettini (8) (Italy)

Coming into the final, Zverev led Berrettini 2-1 in their head to head battles, 1-1 on clay. 

In a lengthy second game, Berrettini saved a break point, and it was Zverev whose serve was first to be cracked in game seven.

The German immediately broke back, and the pair avoided any further problems from the line until a tie break intervened.

Berrettini led 6 points to 4 but Zverev saved both of the set points and at 7-6 had one of his own. This disappeared, as did another for the Italian, but at 9-8 Berrettini served out the set 7-6(8), the first dropped by Zverev all tournament.

Berrettini delivered three successive love games in set two, but in game seven, had to save a break point. He wasn’t able to do it in the ninth game, and Zverev, with the break, served out the set 6-4.

In the decider, Zverev saved a break point in the fourth game, then in the next game broke the Italian serve.

No more breaks of serve until Berrettini went to the line at 3-5.  Zverev converted the second of two match points to take the title 6-7(8) 6-4 6-3.

Berrettini hit twice as many winners, but 50 unforced errors were telling.

This was title number 15 from 24 finals for Zverev, and his second for 2021. It was his fourth Masters 1000 title, from eight finals, having also won in Madrid in 2018.