Zverev never trailed against the third-ranked Federer on Sunday and displayed a powerful serve and a deft touch at the net. He won 75 percent of service points in handing Federer, 36, his third loss of the season.
Federer acknowledged Zverev’s control of the game from start to finish.
“I wanted to fight a bit more and make the match a bit more tighter,” he said. “I had opportunities. But Zverev played extremely well. He played well all week.”
Zverev was hesitant to place himself on the same level as Federer, Nadal, Murray and Djokovic.
“I don’t think I’m part of the big four because they’ve won too much in the history of tennis,” Zverev said. “They won too many Grand Slams.”
But Zverev has won five tournament this season, including four since May. At the Rome Masters on clay, he beat Djokovic, then ranked No. 2, in straight sets to take the title. A month later on grass, Zverev reached the final at the Gerry Weber Open in Halle, Germany, losing to Federer in straight sets.
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“Obviously the Rome title was a big one,” Zverev said last week. “I didn’t expect it. You know, I knew that I could beat the best players in the world, and I’ve shown that over several weeks this year. I’m happy where I am.”
Zverev’s performance this season also puts him in the elite company of Djokovic, Nadal, Andy Roddick and Lleyton Hewitt — all players who also won at least four titles before turning 21 years old. Perhaps not coincidentally, each of those four players spent significant time ranked No. 1 in the world.
The next stop for Zverev is the Cincinnati Masters this week. He acknowledged that given the amount of tennis he has played in recent weeks, he may not be at full strength in Ohio.
“Cincinnati is a very tough draw,” he said. “I got to regroup and refocus and try to do well there, as well.”
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He added, “I don’t know if I will be able to go far there because I am a little bit tired.”
Regardless of his results in Cincinnati, Zverev will be among the favorites at the United States Open, which begins Aug. 28.
He is still awaiting his Grand Slam breakthrough. His best result in nine career majors is reaching the round of 16 at Wimbledon this year. He has only one main-draw victory at the United States Open.
“Game-wise and confidence-wise, I’m superhappy the way everything is standing,” Zverev said.
“I feel like I’m playing the right tennis, well enough tennis to be there. I don’t feel like things are going unnatural. I think, like, everything is going pretty natural.”