Tennis world erupts over never-before-seen moment at Olympics
Alexander Zverev has created tennis history at the Olympics and won the biggest singles title of his career after defeating Karen Khachanov in the final.
The World No.5 won the biggest title of his career on Sunday, crushing World No.25 Khachanov 6-3, 6-1 in one hour and 19 minutes in the gold medal match.
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The 24-year-old showed his steel on Friday after coming from behind to defeat World No.1 Novak Djokovic in the semi final.
That boil-over victory sabotaged the World No.1's plans to become the first man to claim all four grand slams and an Olympic title in the same year.
And he showed no signs of slowing down against the recent Wimbledon quarter-finalist after clinching Germany the gold.
Zverev's Olympics gold ensures countrywoman Steffi Graf remains the only tennis player to win the golden slam - a feat she achieved in 1988.
Zverev became the first German male to win gold at the Olympics.
It marked Zverev's 16th - and biggest - tournament victory.
A golden Games for @AlexZverev 🥇
He becomes the first German to win an Olympic gold medal in singles since Steffi Graf 🇩🇪#Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/hYZz1F4nXD— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) August 1, 2021
GOLD!
Alexander Zverev easily beats Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-1 to win his biggest title in #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/99jJnESLve— José Morgado (@josemorgado) August 1, 2021
Olympic Gold ✅
Nitto ATP Finals ✅
4 x Masters 1000s ✅@AlexZverev’s haul is growing and growing…#Tokyo2020 #Tennis pic.twitter.com/4e9jXstyWN— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 1, 2021
Congratulations @AlexZverev for winning the gold medal pic.twitter.com/4G2gxv4zBJ
— RolexShMasters (@SH_RolexMasters) August 1, 2021
First men‘s singles tennis gold medalist in German history! What a thrilling final and sensational performance from you, @AlexZverev! 💪🏻🎾 Congrats on Olympic #gold! 🥇🇩🇪 #Olympics
— Bastian Schweinsteiger (@BSchweinsteiger) August 1, 2021
Alexander Zverev wins gold🥇 in the men’s singles tennis. What a tournament he had!#Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/ktfkcRXGLc
— Owuraku Ampofo (@_owurakuampofo) August 1, 2021
Alexander #Zverev is Olympic champion #tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/iFcjTQLmJA
— Mark Palmer (@MarkPalmerST) August 1, 2021
Alexander Zverev emotional after Olympics gold
Zverev collapsed to his knees in tears after his win on Sunday, appearing in almost disbelief after surpassing his previous career highlights - a 2018 ATP Finals triumph and his 2020 US Open runner-up finish.
"I can't compare it because this is so much bigger than anything else in sports," he said.
"I've won the World Tour Finals but a gold medal at the Olympics, the value is incredible because you're not only playing for yourself, you're playing for your country.
"There is nothing better than this."
Zverev broke 12th seed Khachanov for the first time to lead 2-1 and always looked in control, winning seven games in a row to take the first set and lead 5-0 in the second before icing the win with his first match point.
For Germany, Zverev's win improves Tommy Haas' 2000 Sydney Games silver medal and matches Graf's 1988 singles success and compatriots Boris Becker and Michael Stich's 1992 doubles gold.
Earlier, French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova teamed up with Katerina Siniakova to add Olympic women's doubles gold to their stellar career haul.
with AAP
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