Tennis, Zverev triumphs in Rome and becomes favourite for Paris

German Alexander Zverev triumphs in Rome in the final of the Internazionali d'Italia seven years after his 2017 victory over Novak Djokovic. He wins a Masters 1000 for the first time in almost three years (the last had been Cincinnati 2021), altogether the sixth of his career.

Zverev dominated the final against Chilean Nicolas Jarry with a straight-sets (6-4 7-5), showing great solidity in his serve with only five points lost. The heart of the Chilean player, who had already achieved his victory by reaching the final, was not enough. Zverev will return to the world's top 4 for the first time since 2022, replacing Daniil Medvedev, and emerges as one of the favourites for next year's Roland Garros, after the semi-final he lost to Rafa Nadal in June 2022, when he injured his ankle and was forced to stay off the court for seven months.

In the final Zverev had no difficulty in the first set, where he lost just one point in four turnovers. The break came on a change of pace by the German player, in the tenth game, which handed the first set to the world number 5. In the second set Zeverev's serve continued to grind out points, with the Chilean managing to save himself on two delicate break points and stay in the German player's wake. But it was not enough as Zverev had the first three match points, which he was unable to exploit due to the Chilean player's good defence. But Nicolas Jarry's heart was not enough on the fourth match point, which Zverev took straight to the net with his forehand. It was his second triumph in Rome after seven years. For Paris there is one more favourite.