Yahoo Finance Alexander Zverev wins Olympic gold for Germany as he cruises to victory over Russian Karen Khachanov
Is it possible not to break sweat in 35°C temperatures?
Alexander Zverev gave that impression in sealing the men’s Olympics tennis title for Germany. A dominant 6-3, 6-1 win bolsters his case as a founding father in the new era of male tennis superiority. But it was his semi-final which will live longer in the memory than this sub-80 minute victory. In an Olympics of withdrawals and stars failing to sparkle, this was not the expected men’s gold medal match.
Favourite Novak Djokovic fell to Zverev, exiting in a blaze of shattered graphite. Daniil Medvedev felt like death in the heat. So it was Zverev, whose parents played tennis for the Soviet Union, against Russian Olympic Committee member and world number 25 Karen Khachanov. It has been a tough year to be called Karen. The name has become a punchline, a shorthand for a sort of narrowmindedness.
It is a traditional Armenian name for boys but perhaps it was also a Khachanov parental ruse, like the Johnny Cash song A Boy Named Sue, a bid to toughen up their son? Mixed results for that strategy on Sunday's evidence, where Khachanov dressed to blend in, in a T-shirt the same shade of blue as the decorative Tokyo 2020 signs around centre court at the Ariake Tennis Centre. Squint and you’d miss him. By the third game, his sweat had changed his outfit’s colour and the match was already slipping away.
Broken in just his second service game, he had few answers throughout to Zverev who forced him onto his weaker backhand, bossed the rallies and deployed a fearsome arsenal of winners. There was a hopelessness to Zverev's aces and an ominous finality every time he decamped from his usual baseline habitat and loomed towards the net. Zverev grew into the match, yelling in delight after one stunning backhand winner down the line. The biggest disturbance to his tranquil rhythm was a German flag, flapping distractingly in his eye line during an early service game. He seemed to tune out the first set soundtrack of small but audible protests nearby which threatened to overwhelm even the omnipresent chirping cicadas.
Had the hubbub outside disturbed Khachanov? “Yeah of course,” he said drily. “I hear well.” Where does Zverev go from here? He called this title both the “biggest” and “best” available in tennis and it should be the fillip for a run to his first Grand Slam, as it was for Andy Murray, Wimbledon winner the year after gold at London 2012. The uneven singles careers of Olympic champions Nicolás Massú and Marc Rosset are more cautionary tales.
Zverev is a class above them but less than a year removed from unproven domestic abuse allegations from former girlfriend Olga Sharypova, who alleged he had hit her head against a wall, tried to choke her with a pillow and punched her in the face. Zverev denied all shortly afterwards.
“These accusations are just unfounded, just untrue,” he said when they emerged last year. “We had our ups and downs, but the way our relationship was described to the public is not how it was. That’s not who I am. That’s not how I was raised by my parents. And that’s not just simply who I am as a person.” After several days of silence the ATP issued a statement saying it “fully condemned any form of violence of abuse”.
At no point was Zverev’s name mentioned, nor was the governing body minded to investigate in the absence of any formal charges. When the allegations surfaced replies to Zverev’s Instagram pictures were peppered with the hashtag #IstandwithOlya. Under his most recent post before this final, it was the blue tick brigade instead, a parade of ‘verified’ famous users congratulating Zverev for beating Djokovic, Thomas Muller, Sabine Lisicki and Nico Rosberg among them.
There will be similar congratulations overnight for a job well done here, as Zverev looks forward to his next chapter. A major tournament winner for the first time, unburdened by his past.
Men's gold medal match, as it happened
10:16 AMThat's all folks
That's all folks
That's it for the tennis competition in Tokyo. A host of top names dropped out but we have two worthy champions in Alexander Zverev and Belinda Bencic.
Stay with Telegraph Sport for the complete coverage of the Olympics. Our Athletics blog here is building up to the 100m final. Meanwhile, Max Whitlock and Joe Fraser go for gymnastics gold here.
09:55 AMMedal ceremony
Medal ceremony
GOLD - Germany's Alexander Zverev | SILVER - ROC's Karen Khachanov | BRONZE - Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta
09:51 AMThe champ
The champ
The week started with Novak Djokovic as the clear favourite but will end with Alexander Zverev walking away with the gold medal.
09:47 AMThe winning moment
The moment Alexander Zverev became an Olympic champion 🥇
What a stunning match from both players.
Follow➡ https://t.co/FlwRiujrtW #bbcolympics #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/lqNhqxwSyg
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 1, 2021
09:39 AMZverev* 6-3 6-1 Khachanov
The winning moment
The moment Alexander Zverev became an Olympic champion 🥇
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 1, 2021
What a stunning match from both players.
Follow➡ https://t.co/FlwRiujrtW #bbcolympics #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/lqNhqxwSyg
09:39 AMZverev* 6-3 6-1 Khachanov
Zverev* 6-3 6-1 Khachanov
Zverev forehand clips the net and flies long, 0-15. Zverev backhand wide, 0-30. Some nerves perhaps?!
Back to back big first serves from Zverev, 30-30. Zverev backhand volley winner. Gold medal point.
GAME>SET>MATCH. A faultless display is completed as Khachanov nets.
Zverev drops to his knees as he becomes the first German man to win gold in tennis. Khachanov smashes his rackets in frustration. Contrasting emotions.
09:33 AMZverev 6-3 5-1 Khachanov*
Zverev 6-3 5-1 Khachanov*
In terms of personal pride, Khachanov will want to hold serve to avoid being bageled in this set.
Wide serve is unreturned, 30-15. Zverev forces a defensive backhand into the net from Khachanov, 30-30.
Khachanov is handed a code violation for slamming the ball away. He responds with a forehand winner.
And holds with a big first serve. Is a comeback on?
09:28 AMZverev* 6-3 5-0 Khachanov
Zverev* 6-3 5-0 Khachanov
Zverev has beaten the belief out of his opponent. The German holds to love and needs one more game to win gold.
He's been imperious today.
09:26 AMZverev 6-3 4-0 Khachanov*
Zverev 6-3 4-0 Khachanov*
Trouble again for the Russian as he's taken to deuce again. Zverev puts a forehand long. Then drills a blistering forehand winner down the line. Inch perfect.
Zverev is everywhere at the moment and he reads what Khachanov is doing, holds his position and flicks a backhand cross court for a winner. Break point. Relief for Khachanov as Zverev nets a backhand.
Zverev with another backhand winner, second break point. Khachanov backhand wide. Double break confirmed. The Germany support box are on their feet applauding.
09:15 AM Zverev* 6-3 3-0 Khachanov
Zverev* 6-3 3-0 Khachanov
Zverev hits his 19th winner of the match, 15-0. Khachanov has hit just four. Big first serve by Zverev, 30-30. Then an wide ace, 40-30.
Half chance for Khachanov to flick a backhand into the court but he misses and Zverev consoldiates the break.
09:11 AMZverev 6-3 2-0 Khachanov*
Zverev 6-3 2-0 Khachanov*
First double of the match to start the game by Khachanov. And he nets a forehand to fall 15-30 behind. Khachanov's forehand hits the top of the net and flies wide. Two break points.
He saves the first with a big serve. And the second with a big forehand. Khachanov backhand into the net and it's a third break point.
One of the longest rallies of the match, Zverev holds his nerve and Khachanov's forehand breaks down.
Zverev breaks to take a commanding lead.
09:06 AMSecond set: Zverev* 6-3 1-0 Khachanov
Second set: Zverev* 6-3 1-0 Khachanov
Zverev is on another planet right now. He holds to love with a jaw dropping backhand down the line. He roars to the sparse crowd afterwards.
Outrageous shot.
09:04 AMTelegraph's Thom Gibbs at the Ariake Tennis Centre
Not much sign of a contest here. Zverev seems completely in charge of the rallies, just a couple of unforced errors which have let him down. Clearly has his eye in, as demonstrated by that correct challenge on what looked a certain passing backhand winner for Khachanov, Johnny ROC needs a response early in this second set or this could be over in a hurry.
09:01 AMZverev 6-3 Khachanov*
Telegraph's Thom Gibbs at the Ariake Tennis Centre
Not much sign of a contest here. Zverev seems completely in charge of the rallies, just a couple of unforced errors which have let him down. Clearly has his eye in, as demonstrated by that correct challenge on what looked a certain passing backhand winner for Khachanov, Johnny ROC needs a response early in this second set or this could be over in a hurry.
09:01 AMZverev 6-3 Khachanov*
Zverev 6-3 Khachanov*
Blistering forehand return winner by Zverev. He then sets the next point up beautifully and inexplicably nets a forehand, 15-15.
Khachanov forehand wide, 30-30. Khachanov backhand long, deuce. Massive backhand winner down the line hands Zverev a set point. Khachanov stays cool and draws the backhand error. Deuce.
Second set point as Khachanov misses the line with a backhand down the line. And Zverev claims the set when Khachanov puts a volley wide. Terrible shot and it's cost him dearly.
08:53 AMZverev* 5-3 Khachanov
Zverev* 5-3 Khachanov
Zverev ace, 30-15. Followed by a forehand winner, 40-15. Zverev forehand into the net, 40-30.
Khachanov backhand long allows Zverev to hold.
08:47 AMTelegraph's Thom Gibbs at the Ariake Tennis Centre
Surviving that small wobble of a break point felt like a big moment in this set for Zverev. Little has disturbed him so far here, apart from a flappy German flag that was distracting him as he served in the set's third game. So much for the supportive German fans, they sheepishly put it away.
We also had a few games soundtracked by a droning bloke making a racket (arf) somewhere close to the stadium. He was shouting the same thing repeatedly. It sounded like it might have had something to do with Russia, but I'm guessing here. Wish you could Shazam shouting.
Eased off for a while but returned in the sixth game. Sounds like a call and response thing now and am wondering if it's the long-feared Olympic protest movement making itself heard. There have been sightings of a small group outside the Gymnastics venue today, which isn't far from here.
08:47 AMZverev 4-3 Khachanov*
Telegraph's Thom Gibbs at the Ariake Tennis Centre
Surviving that small wobble of a break point felt like a big moment in this set for Zverev. Little has disturbed him so far here, apart from a flappy German flag that was distracting him as he served in the set's third game. So much for the supportive German fans, they sheepishly put it away.
We also had a few games soundtracked by a droning bloke making a racket (arf) somewhere close to the stadium. He was shouting the same thing repeatedly. It sounded like it might have had something to do with Russia, but I'm guessing here. Wish you could Shazam shouting.
Eased off for a while but returned in the sixth game. Sounds like a call and response thing now and am wondering if it's the long-feared Olympic protest movement making itself heard. There have been sightings of a small group outside the Gymnastics venue today, which isn't far from here.
08:47 AMZverev 4-3 Khachanov*
Zverev 4-3 Khachanov*
Too many errors from Khachanov at the moment. He nets a forehand to slip to 15-30. A much needed first serve is unreturned and makes it 30-30.
Zverev backhand into the net, 40-30. Then another goes long. Big hold for Khachanov.
08:43 AMZverev* 4-2 Khachanov
Zverev* 4-2 Khachanov
Lovely touch at the net from Zverev to put away an angled backhand volley, 40-15. He then nets a forehand to keep Khachanov in the game.
Then another forehand flies long and it's deuce. Great hustle by Khachanov and he forces Zverev to put a forehand wide, break point.
Big first serve into the body and Khachanov can't get his return back in play. Deuce.
Zverev forehand winner then a Khachanov backhand into the net. Zverev holds.
08:36 AMZverev 3-2 Khachanov*
Zverev 3-2 Khachanov*
Khachanov holds to 30 with a wide ace to keep himself in touch. He clenches his fist and looks towards the Russian support box.
He'll need to find some inspiration from somewhere the way Zverev is playing.
08:32 AMZverev* 3-1 Khachanov
Zverev* 3-1 Khachanov
Clever from Zverev to spot Khachanov standing deep and play an excellent drop shot, 30-15. Zverev cross court forehand winner. He's hitting the ball beautifully at the moment.
And he holds when Khachanov's return goes wide.
08:27 AMZverev 2-1 Khachanov*
Zverev 2-1 Khachanov*
First break point of the match as Khachanov nets a backhand. Big-hitting from Zverev, he hits a deep approach shot with his forehand that draws a defensive lob by Khachanov but the German puts away the smash with ease.
And early lead for Germany and Zverev, who is locked in.
08:25 AMZverev* 1-1 Khachanov
Zverev* 1-1 Khachanov
Confident start by Zverev as he holds to love in his opening serve game.
08:20 AMFirst set: Alexander Zverev 0-1 Karen Khachanov* (*denotes server)
First set: Alexander Zverev 0-1 Karen Khachanov* (*denotes server)
Here we go! Khachanov opens the match with a big first serve which Zverev can't get back in play. He goes on the offense again and draws a forced error from his opponent, 40-15.
An ace to finish completes a great start.
08:15 AMPreview from our man on the ground
Preview from our man on the ground
Medals awarded to the victorious Czechs in the women's doubles, anthems played, flags raised and the podium is being disassembled at speed. Zverev and Khachanov next up on centre court here.
Can spot a healthy contingent on Team Zverev in bright orange, presumably athletes and coaches, clustered around a German flag on the opposite side of the stadium to the press seats. No ROC flag on show, presumably because very few exist.
Here come the players, Khachanov is in a turquoise top which is very similar to the colours on and around the court. Is his gameplan camouflage-based? Zverev wears an uncontroversial white and yellow top.
There is British interest here too, Alison Hughes is the chair umpire. Thankfully in contrasting red.
Thom Gibbs at the Ariake Tennis Centre
08:12 AMMen's singles final
Men's singles final
Zverev and Khachanov walk onto court for their match. This is the fifth meeting between them. The head to head is 2-2. Zverev wins the toss and decides to make Khachanov serve first.
08:04 AMMedal winners
Medal winners
Gold - Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova
Silver - Switzerland's Belinda Bencic and Viktorija Golubic
Bronze - Brazil's Laura Pigossi and Luisa Stefani
07:52 AMMore mixed events?
More mixed events?
Andy Murray was all-in during his time at the Olympics and it has continued as he watches from home.
And he's had some thoughts. Read them here and tell me what you think.
07:42 AMMedal ceremony
Medal ceremony
We will have the medal ceremony for the women's doubles before the men's final.
We'll bring you the best pictures from that as soon as they land!
07:36 AMGAME> SET>MATCH
GAME> SET>MATCH
It is all over at the Ariake Tennis Centre as Barbora Krejcikova & Katerina Siniakova win the doubles gold medal match.
They beat Switzerland's Belinda Bencic & Viktorija Golubic 7-5 6-1.
It caps a phenomenal breakthrough year for Krejcikova, who adds a gold medal to her French Open title.
07:26 AMStrop-ovic
Strop-ovic
In case you missed it, Novak Djokovic's Olympics dreams were dramatically ended on Saturday as he lost his cool in the bronze medal match against Pablo Carreno Busta.
Read more about that here and listen to the Tennis Podcast below
07:21 AMDouble break
Double break
Krecikova and Siniakova have secured two breaks in the second set to lead Bencic and Golubic 7-5, 4-1.
07:10 AMSetting the scene
Setting the scene
Morning from centre court at the Ariake Tennis Centre, a 10,000-seater venue which opened in 1987.
As such it's one of the older components of the Ariake district at this Olympics, where gymnastics, handball and urban sports arenas have sprung up at tremendous expense to host these Games.
It's gold medal day in the tennis, with the women's doubles final first up and taking place currently. It's on serve in the first set, nothing to choose between the Czech pair of Krecikova/Siniakova and their Swiss opponents Bencic and Golubic.
The only edge seems to come from whichever team gets to serve from the shaded part of the court. Tennis has been starting later as these Games has progressed to avoid the day's peak heat - Daniil Medvedev essentially telling the umpire they would be liable for his death from heat exhaustion seems to have focussed a few minds. Despite the later start it's still a toasty 32°C currently, although my temperature app tells me it "feels like" 36°C. I can confirm that makes it officially a 'scorcher'.
When the doubles match is decided it will be Alexander Zverev and Karen Khachanov duking it out for men's gold. Not the final that was expected, but where at this Games have things gone as anticipated?
Zverev is a fairly heavy favourite but I quite fancy Khachanov. The pair have split their four matches to date, but Khachanov has won the most recent two and has been the most impressive performer in this tournament. Crucially, he looks to be handling the heat. Not sure I will cope as well but have two litres of water and intend to use it.
Thom Gibbs at the Ariake Tennis Centre
07:04 AMWomen's doubles final
Women's doubles final
Before the men's final, the women's doubles final is taking place and the Czech pair of Siniakova and Krejcikova have won the first set 7-5 over Swiss pair Bencic and Golubic and have broken early in the second set.
06:41 AMMorning!
Morning!
It has been an exhilarating week in the tennis competition and it all comes to an end today.
It is the gold medal match between Germany's Alexander Zverev and Karen Khachanov of the Russian Olympic Committee.
Zverev booked his place in the final when he fought back from a set down to beat world No 1 and top seed Novak Djokovic on Friday.
After the match, the German called it "maybe the proudest moment of my career so far".
"Because I'm not only playing for myself I'm not only playing for my parents, for my brother, for my family," he said. "But I'm also playing for everybody, all the (German) athletes here back at the base and everybody back at home watching."
The 24-year-old cried for several minutes courtside following his win over the Serbian, who had beaten him in five consecutive meetings dating back to 2018 and appeared set to extend the streak before the German battled back.
“Obviously, yeah, it's an amazing feeling knowing that you're going to bring the medal back to your house, back home to Germany," Zverev said.
"It's incredible beating the best player in the world undoubtedly right now and in this season.
"It seemed it was impossible to beat him at this event, so I’m very happy right now. But yet there's still one match to go."
Khachanov made it through to the final after a convincing straight-sets win over Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta.
"I play tennis for those moments, I practice for these kind of matches and you know, when you get there, when it's paying off, it's just a pure pleasure to be here...," he said.
"(It's) the kind of memories that will stay forever."
Carreno Busta's Olympics did end on a high however as he beat Djokovic in the bronze medal match on Saturday. More on that to come as we build-up to the final...
