Birthday boy Zverev roars back to form with Munich win

Munich, Germany: Germany s world number three Alexander Zverev celebrated his 28th birthday in style on Sunday easing to the ATP Munich title with a 6...

Munich, Germany: Germany's world number three Alexander Zverev celebrated his 28th birthday in style on Sunday easing to the ATP Munich title with a 6-2, 6-4 win over American Ben Shelton.

The top-seeded Zverev, appearing in his first final since losing to Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open title decider in January, had little trouble dealing with Shelton, ranked 15 in the world.

For Zverev it was the third time he had won in Munich -- equalling compatriot Philipp Kohlschreiber's record -- and his 24th ATP title overall.

Unlike in his quarter-final win over the Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor, where Zverev needed to come from a set down to win, the German was in control from the outset against the 22-year-old second-seeded American.

Zverev forced Shelton into several mistakes, before converting his first match point after just 71 minutes.