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The German world number four defeated Russian Andrey Rublev 6-2
6-3 in less than an hour in Cincinnati to win his second Masters
1000 tournament of the season and fourth title in all.
Zverev came up just short of landing his first Grand Slam title
in New York when he lost the final to Dominic Thiem last year
but said his preparations this season had been very different.
"I was still finding my game during the U.S. Open last year, but
it worked well for me," the 24-year-old told reporters after the
final.
"I was pretty close to winning it. But I'm looking forward to
what's in it for me this year, and we'll see how it is once I
arrive there.
"I'm looking forward to it because I know where I stand, I know
how I'm playing, and I hope I can continue the work and
hopefully play even better in New York."
The absence of Roger Federer or Rafa Nadal from the U.S. Open
presents a good chance for one of the young guns in men's tennis
to snare a Grand Slam title.
World number one Novak Djokovic, who will be chasing a calendar
Grand Slam when the season's last major gets underway on Aug.
30, is a considerable roadblock to those ambitions, according to
Zverev.
"I do think that he's still the favourite," the Olympic champion
added.
"I do think he's going to be playing incredible tennis there.
He's going to be fresh, and I think there is also other guys
that are in very good form.
"Let's see how it goes ... I still have a lot of work ahead of
me. I have to find my rhythm in New York as well."
(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Shri Navaratnam)
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