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Alexander Zverev Beats Ben Shelton to Win BMW Open Title

Alexander Zverev defeated Ben Shelton in straight sets in the BMW Open final.
Pat Benson|
Alexander Zverev defeated Ben Shelton in the BMW Open final on April 20, 2025.
Alexander Zverev defeated Ben Shelton in the BMW Open final on April 20, 2025. | IMAGO / Beautiful Sports

After losing in the Australian Open final in January, the past three months have been challenging for Alexander Zverev.

The German tennis star underperformed in every tournament and slid from ATP World No. 2 to No. 3. Zverev openly questioned everything from his mindset to his play style during moments of frustration.

However, Zverev's resilience paid off against Ben Shelton on Sunday in Munich. Zverev celebrated his birthday with a straight-sets victory over Shelton to win the BMW Open title: 6-2, 6-4.

Zverev's inexplicable errors and shaky confidence were nonexistent throughout his run at the ATP 500 event, especially in today's match against the surging Shelton.

Both players in today's final are heavy hitters, but Zverev capitalized on the biggest moments of the match. He was 3/4 in break point opportunities, while Shelton never had the chance to break Zverev.

Zverev improves to 19-7 and secures his first title of the season. It is his third time winning the BMW Open and 24th career title. Meanwhile, Shelton is 14-8 and likely to move up from his No. 15 ranking.

Speaking from center court after the match, Shelton showed off his patented mix of humor and humility. He thanked God and said he was blessed to play on Easter Sunday.

Shelton admitted to not knowing today was Zverev's birthday, "It's your birthday too. I didn't know that. Happy Birthday. I would've said like, this is a birthday gift, but I had no clue (laughs)."

Zverev gave his opponent plenty of praise after the match. He congratulated Shelton on an "incredible week" and noted how much the American star had improved on clay over the past few years.

"I definitely knew I had to play my best tennis today, Ben has been playing extremely well this week," said Zverev.

"The conditions suit him extremely well; it's very hot and very fast. They suit me as well, to be fair. I enjoyed my birthday so far."

Zverev said of his own play, "It's extremely special. I always love winning tournaments in Germany," said Zverev, who earned his first title of the season.

"It's probably the most special thing I can do. It's definitely a great birthday present, let's put it that way."

With clay court season in full swing, the ATP prepares for another Masters event. The Madrid Open starts this upcoming week in Spain, and many of the world's best players will try to further hone their play on clay to prepare for next month's French Open.

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Pat Benson
PAT BENSON

Pat Benson covers professional tennis for Serve on Sports Illustrated, reporting on ATP and WTA events worldwide. From Challenger tournaments to Grand Slams, he brings readers in-depth coverage, daily recaps, and exclusive interviews with some of the biggest names in the sport. With a decade of experience in sports journalism, Pat is recognized as a trusted voice in tennis media. You can contact him at 1989patbenson@gmail.com.

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