Zverev beats de Minaur for 2nd consecutive Citi Open title

Defending champion Alexander Zverev, of Germany, returns the ball to Stefanos Tsitsipas during the semifinal round of the Citi Open tennis tournament in Washington, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Alexander Zverev became the first man in nearly a decade to win consecutive titles at the Citi Open, overpowering Alex de Minaur 6-2, 6-4 in the hard-court tournament's final Sunday.

Zverev hit six aces, topping 130 mph, and never faced a break point en route to his ninth career ATP title and third of 2018.

He improved to 16-2 for his career at Washington's tuneup for the U.S. Open. Juan Martin del Potro won the event twice in a row in 2008-09.

Germany's Zverev is 21, and Australia's de Minaur is 19, making for the youngest final on the ATP World Tour since 20-year-old Rafael Nadal beat 19-year-old Novak Djokovic at Indian Wells, California, in 2007.

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