Gold medallist Zverev loses in break point nightmare on eve of Games

Reigning Olympic champion Alexander Zverev blew 21 of 22 break point chances on Sunday as the German went down in his hometown 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (1) to France’s Arthur Fils at the ATP Hamburg event.

The 500 event was to have been the final prep for Zverev as he heads to Paris for Friday’s Olympic start to defend his title from Tokyo.

But Fils, aged 20 and ranked 28th, put paid to that dream scenario as he overcame cramping and threw in a controversial underarm serve in the final set to emerge with the biggest win of his brief career.

Zverev, a Hamburg native and world No. 4, failed to defend his home title from 2023 as he lost a showpiece match lasting for 3 hours, 33 minutes.

Fils and Zverev had words which sparked the chair umpire to move between them at the changeover after the Frenchman held for 6-5, the game in which he used the underarm tactic.

He later explained: “I was cramping and couldn’t serve. The crowd (and Zverev) took it badly but I don’t care – I was winning.”

Fils was competing in his third ATP final and earned his second Tour title after Lyon in May, 2023.

The fifth-seeded challenger’s win also meant revenge for a loss here a year ago to Zverev in the semis.

Fils ended the final with 39 winners and nearly 60 unforced errors, while Zverev  had 24 winners including eight aces.

“I’m really happy about how I played,” the winner, who will move into the ranking Top 20 said.

“I did all I could to win this match. He is a great champion who played the final at Roland Garros.

“I knew this match would not be easy.”

The stadium roof at the Rothenbaum Club was closed prior to a third set played as rain pounded down.

“I knew the final set would be a dogfight,” Fils said. “I just fought to the last ball.

“I’ve been training for this kind of event and I’m really, really happy to win it.”