So close, yet so far for Anderson

Washington – Alexander Zverev issued a warning to top ATP rivals on Sunday after winning the Citi Open for his fourth title of the year – he’s not the next generation, he’s the now generation.

The 20-year-old German defeated South Africa’s Kevin Anderson (above) 6-4, 6-4 to capture the $355 460 top prize at the US Open tune-up event here.

World No 8 Zverev dropped only nine points on his serve and never faced a break point in becoming the youngest player to win four ATP titles in a year, or take the Washington crown, since Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro did it at 19 in 2008.

“I improved a lot in the last few months to get where I can win tournaments,” Zverev said. “The longer the tournament goes for me the better I’m able to play.”

Zverev won his first title last year in St Petersburg and added trophies this year in Montpellier, Munich and Rome, where he beat Novak Djokovic in the final.

He also ousted no 4 Stan Wawrinka in Miami and pushed Rafael Nadal to five sets in the third round of the Australian Open.

“I’m ‘Next Gen’ but the rankings say it for themselves,” Zverev said. “I think I showed I can play with the big guys this year.

“I showed I’m not an ‘in the future’ kind of guy. I’m right now.”

Only Wimbledon and Australian Open champion Roger Federer, with five titles, has won more ATP crowns this year than Zverev, and that’s only because the Swiss star handed the German his lone final loss of 2017 at Halle in June. –