Staff Reporter.
Alexander Zverev produced a dominant serving display to clinch a straight sets victory over Nicolas Jarry and claim his second Italian Open title.
The German third seed dropped just five points on serve in a 6-4 7-5 win to seal a sixth Masters 1000 crown.
Zverev will now move up a place to fourth in the world rankings and served a warning to his rivals ahead of the French Open, which begins on 26 May.
But he said: “The focus is on Paris for sure, but let me enjoy this one for a few days first.
“Rome is a very special place for me. Obviously it’s a very, very special week.”
Chilean Jarry was competing in his first final at this level.
The world number 24 had knocked out sixth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarter-finals, but while he battled hard to stay in the match he had no answer to his opponent’s arrow-like serve, as Zverev landed 80% of his first serves in.
“He’s playing huge,” said Zverev of his opponent, who also beat America’s Tommy Paul en route to the final.
“I can see by the opponents he has beaten this week, that he is playing incredible tennis.
“I told him that if he carries on playing like that then he is going to have many more titles at this level.”
Zverev will also be defending his gold medal when the Paris Olympics tennis tournament is held at Roland Garros starting in late July.
Top-ranked Iga Swaitek beat No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka in the women’s final on Saturday.
In the women’s doubles final, Coco Gauff double faulted on match point to hand Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini of Italy the title with a 6-3, 4-6, 10-8 victory. Gauff teamed with Erin Routliffe.
Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos beat Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic 6-2, 6-2 for the men’s doubles title.