The Baseline Player of the Week: Alexander Zverev

Every week Baseline will select a “Player of the Week.” That athlete may not always win the highest category tournament that week, but perform the best compared to their recent playing history.

To say that Alexander Zverev put himself in good company by beating Guido Pella, 6-4, 6-3, to win the title in Munich on Sunday would be an understatement.

Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Juan Martin del Potro and Richard Gasquet have combined to win 216 career singles titles and 30 Grand Slam crowns. The 20-year-old Zverev joins that elite group as one of only six players since 2005 to win at least three ATP titles before turning 21.

The prospects of Zverev getting to that point did not look great during his quarterfinal in Munich. In an all-German affair, Zverev was in trouble nearly two hours into his encounter with Jan-Lennard Struff.

Struff earned a break point at 4-3 in the deciding set, only for Zverev to save it with an ace out wide. He would survive, 3-6, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5).

That proved to be Zverev’s toughest obstacle in what was arguably his easiest path to a title yet. When the German won St. Petersburg last year, he had to beat two Top 10 players, including Stan Wawrinka. In February, Zverev fought through three three-setters to earn the crown in Montpellier.

After losing to compatriot Florian Mayer in last year’s Halle final, perhaps what was most important to Zverev was winning a championship in front of his home crowd.

“I lost the final in Halle last year, which was very painful,” Zverev said. “I really wanted to win a tournament in Germany, which I've done now and I'm very happy about it... It’s a great feeling right now.”

The world No. 19 has officially joined elite company for his early-career achievements, and all signs point toward more wins in his near future.