Zverev kick-starts hat-trick hunt in Turin with dominant win

The German has a chance to become the first player since Novak Djokovic in 2015 to win three consecutive ATP Finals titles

Zverev began his campaign to win a hat-trick of ATP Finals titles with a dominant 7-6 (7), 6-3 win over Marin Cilic in Turin on Sunday

The German, who won the title in 2021 and 2022, was in impressive form as he broke the Croatian's serve four times and saved all four break points he faced.

Zverev is now the only player to have won three consecutive ATP Finals titles since Novak Djokovic in 2015.

The 25-year-old is also the youngest player to have won the title three times, surpassing Djokovic, who was 27 when he won his third title in 2015.

Zverev will be hoping to continue his winning run when he faces Andrey Rublev in his second group match on Tuesday.

Cilic, who was making his eighth appearance at the ATP Finals, was unable to match Zverev's power and precision.

The Croatian saved two set points in the first set tie-break, but Zverev eventually prevailed.

Cilic broke Zverev's serve in the second set, but the German broke back immediately and then broke Cilic again to seal the victory.

Zverev is now the favorite to win the ATP Finals for a third consecutive year.

He is the only player to have won the title more than once since Djokovic won it three times in a row from 2012 to 2015.

Zverev will be hoping to continue his winning run when he faces Andrey Rublev in his second group match on Tuesday.

The Russian is also a former ATP Finals champion, having won the title in 2021.

Zverev and Rublev have met twice before, with Zverev winning both matches.

The winner of the Zverev-Rublev match will be in a strong position to qualify for the semi-finals.

The other players in the group are Felix Auger-Aliassime and Taylor Fritz.

Auger-Aliassime is making his debut at the ATP Finals, while Fritz is making his second appearance.