Alexander Zverev says defending his ATP Washington Open title shows growing in strength and maturity, but the world number three still sees a big gap to Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
The 21-year-old German won his third title of the year and the ninth of his career by defeating Australian teen Alex De Minaur 6-2, 6-4 in the 50th edition of the US Open tuneup event.
"What a fantastic week for me," Zverev said. "Winning a tournament on its 50th anniversary is something amazing. This has been a very special week for me.
"(Defending a title) feels great and shows mental strength as well. It shows a little maturity I think."
While Zverev stands atop a generation of rising young stars, he still puts 20-time Grand Slam winner Federer, 36, and 17-time Grand Slam champion Nadal, 32, on the highest of pedestals.
"Roger and Rafa are still the best out there and still competing for Grand Slam titles," he said.
Zverev joined a list of back-to-back Washington champions that includes Andre Agassi, Michael Chang and Juan Martin del Potro.
Zverev, who needed a fifth-set Davis Cup tie-breaker to beat De Minaur in their only prior meeting, broke twice to win the first set in 30 minutes. He smacked a forehand winner to break for a 2-1 edge and held serve to the finish.
Kuznetsova shines
Two-time Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova saved four match points and rallied to defeat Croatia's Donna Vekic and win her 18th career WTA title at the Washington Open.
The 33-year-old Russian, ranked 128th in the world, defeated 44th-ranked Vekic 4-6, 7-6 (9/7), 6-2 for her first WTA title since 2016 in Moscow. It was also Kuznetsova's first title since left wrist surgery that had sidelined her earlier this year.
"I know I've been a little bit lucky today," Kuznetsova said.
Kuznetsova, winner of the 2004 US Open and 2009 French Open, claimed a second Washington title to go with the one she won in 2014, her only other appearance. "There's something going on with Washington," Kuznetsova said. "I never lose here. I played two times and I won both."
Buzarnescu dominates
San Jose: Mihaela Buzarnescu's long road to a WTA title ended in San Jose, California, on Sunday as the Romanian powered past Maria Sakkari 6-1, 6-0 in the final of the US Open hardcourt tuneup.
Greece's Sakkari, ranked 49th in the world, made Buzarnescu's, 30-year-old ranked 24th in the world and seeded fifth task easier with 34 unforced errors.
The Romanian broke twice in taking a 5-0 lead in the first set before Sakkari offered any resistance, fending off a couple of match points to hold serve.
She had three break chances in the next game before Buzarnescu held to close out the set, rolling through the second to victory.
Murray climbs 457 places
Three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray climbed 457 places in the ATP world rankings on Monday, despite withdrawing from the Washington Open before his quarter-final last week.
The former world number one is now ranked 375 as he continues his comeback from an 11-month injury layoff.
Murray also pulled out of the Rogers Cup in Toronto, though, after winning his last-16 match in Washington DC at 3 am.