Top 5 Photos 3/21: Zverev, Karatsev rise as champions

By Jordaan SanfordPublished March 22, 2021

Champions were crowned and more great tennis was played across the globe. One player lifted his first ATP Tour-level trophy, while one doubles team ended an almost two-year drought.

These are the Top 5 photos from Acapulco, Dubai and St. Petersburg. (All photos Getty/AP)

Alexander Zverev

In his previous six bouts with Stefanos Tsitsipas, the German has only come out on top once. Zverev changed that by defeating the Greek, 6-4, 7-6 (3), to win his first Acapulco title. This marks Zverev's 14th career ATP title and his first of the season.

ACAPULCO, MEXICO - MARCH 20: Alexander Zvrev of Germany poses with the trophy after winning the final match between Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece and Alexander Zverev of Germany as part of the Telcel Mexican Open 2021 at Princess Mundo Imperial on March 20, 2021 in Acapulco, Mexico. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images) — © All rights reserved [C] 2021

Neal Skupski and Ken Skupski

The sibling duo took down Acapulco's top-seeded team Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos, 7-6 (3), 6-4, in one hour and 32 minutes. The British pair claimed their first ATP 500-level event together and their third title overall.

ACAPULCO, MEXICO - MARCH 20: Ken Skupski and Neal Skupski of Great Britain celebrate with their champion trophy after the Doubles final match between Marcel Granollers of Spain with Horacio Zeballos of Argentina and Ken Skupski and Neal Skupski of Great Britain as part of the Telcel Mexican Open 2021 at Princess Mundo Imperial on March 20, 2021 in Acapulco, Mexico. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images) — © All rights reserved [C] 2021

Daria Kasatkina

The world No. 61 captured her second title of the season, becoming the first Russian woman to win St. Petersburg after countrywoman Margarita Gasparyan retired with a back injury while trailing 6-3, 2-1. Kasatkina is now 15-3 this season and is creeping closer to returning to the Top 50.

Aslan Karatsev

The incredible 2021 season continues to get better for the Russian. Karatsev picked up his very first ATP title in Dubai by serving Lloyd Harris a 6-3, 6-2 loss. He is now 15-2 this year with his only losses coming to major champions Novak Djokovic and Dominic Thiem. Not too bad, right?

Robert Farah and Juan Sebastian Cabal

The Colombian duo scored their first title of the season with a solid win over Croatians Mate Pavic and Nikola Mektic, 7-6 (0),7-6 (4), to lift the Dubai trophy. It's their first title run since the 2019 US Open.