Alexander Zverev does something at Italian Open only previously achieved by Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic

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Alexander Zverev joined a group occupied only by Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic after winning Sunday’s Italian Open final.

In a tournament where many of the favourites suffered shock early exits, the German was the last man standing and in the process claimed his first title of the season.

This victory is a timely one for the 27-year-old with Roland Garros on the horizon, a tournament where he is desperate for success.

This victory has given Zverev some much needed confidence during a clay court season where he failed to reach the semi-finals of any event before his success in Rome.

Alexander Zverev joins Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic club after Italian Open success

Zverev dropped just one set on the way to winning the 2024 Italian Open. This marked his second Masters 1000 title in Rome after his maiden victory came in 2017.

This made him just the third player since 2000 to win the tournament on multiple occasions since legendary duo Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, who have 16 Italian Open trophies between them.

The new World Number Four began his campaign with comfortable wins over Aleksandar Vukic, Luciano Darderi and Nuno Borges, before outlasting America’s Taylor Fritz in the quarter-finals.

His toughest test came against Djokovic conqueror Alejandro Tabilo, who took the lead in their semi-final. But the German outlasted the Chilean in a second-set tiebreak before completing a 1-6, 7-6(4), 6-2 win.

He did not have it all his own way against Nicolas Jarry in the final, but Zverev outlasted the big server to win 6-4, 7-5 in one hour and 41 minutes.

What did Alexander Zverev say after winning the Italian Open?

Zverev was incredibly solid on his first serve, behind which he won 95% of the points in Sunday’s final.

He also committed just eight unforced errors before eventually breaking Jarry’s resistance on serve in the second set to win the tournament.

The 2024 Italian Open marks the sixth Masters 1000 triumph of Zverev’s career in a city which holds a special place in his heart.

“Today I am extremely happy to be the winner,” he said post-match. “Obviously winning my first ever [Masters] here in Rome and winning my first after my injury also in Rome, so Rome is a very special place for me. It is a very, very special week.”