Fritz downs Zverev again to win first title of 2025 in Stuttgart

Taylor Fritz completed the perfect start to the grass-court season as he beat top seed Alexander Zverev 6-3, 7-6 (0) to win the Stuttgart Open on Sunday.

The American broke once in the first set and then played a flawless tiebreak to win his first title of 2025 with his fifth straight win over the German. It’s his fourth grass-court title in all and his ninth career title. He will return to world No 4 on Monday.

“I’m really happy,” said Fritz, who is the first man this year to win a title without dropping serve. “Not so great clay-court season, so to come here and start the grass-court season perfectly, I’m super-happy. Super-happy with the performance and to take the title.

Fritz, ranked No 7, beat Frenchman Quentin Halys (6-3, 7-6 (6)), Hungarian qualifier Marton Fucsovics (6-3, 6-4) and Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, the No 4 seed (6-4, 7-6 (5)) in the previous rounds of the Stuttgart tournament.

Earlier in the tournament, Zverev, ranked No 3, defeated Frenchman Corentin Moutet (6-2, 7-6 (7)), American Brandon Nakashima, the No 6 seed (7-5, 6-4) and American Ben Shelton, the No 3 seed (7-6 (8), 7-6 (1)).