Good news, but also three bad messages for the ATP tennis tournament at the Hamburg Rothenbaum: Alexander Zverev will now open in his hometown. In Stefanos Tsitsipas, Holger Rune and also Jannik Sinner, three top players canceled.
The world ranking of Italy is in the final at the Masters in Rome and therefore withdrew his participation in Hamburg Open, which started on Sunday. Just like Tommy Paul (USA) and Lorenzo Musetti (Italy), who had made it in Rome to the Semifinal. The Norwegian Rune and the Greek Tsitsipas canceled due to injury, as the organizer announced on Friday.
Zverev needs game practice for Roland Garros
A violent bloodletting for the traditional tournament in the Hanseatic city, which runs until May 24th. Nevertheless, the joy is great for the makers about Zverev’s promise, which can be there at short notice thanks to an “A+ Wildcard”. The 28-year-old was eliminated in Rome in the quarter-finals and wants to collect further game practice for the clay court highlight in Roland Garros (from May 25). At the French Open, he calculates the best chances of his long-awaited first Grand slam title.
“I am particularly looking forward to the fans on the Rothenbaum, who always support me here in a very special way.”
– Alexander Zverev
Zverev had triumphed at his home tournament in 2023, and last year he lost to the Frenchman Arthur Fils in the final. “Everyone knows how much this place means for me. Hamburg is my birthplace, here I started playing tennis and here I also received the Wildcard for my first ATP tournament,” said Zverev: “I am particularly looking forward to the fans on the Rothenbaum, who always support me here in a very special way.”
Finally Zverev’s criticism at the Hamburg appointment
The German had sharply criticized the new appointment of the tournament (mid -May instead of July) in April. He does not know “who has had the idea of putting Hamburg as a 500 tournament a day before the French Open. How stupid it can be. I don’t know who had this idea. No top player or someone who wants to win the French Open on Saturday can play finals in Hamburg and then play the first round at the French Open on Saturday,” Zverev said at “MagentaT”: “You have to be physically prepared. Sleep in your bed where you will sleep for the next two weeks. ” No player who “has the eyes on the French Open will play there,” he had predicted.
In mid-May, Zverev’s tennis world looks different again and after the cancellation of Sinner and Co., the Tokyo Olympic champion will start as a clear favorite in Hamburg. Two German youngsters benefit from the withdrawal of the top stars: 17-year-old Diego Dedura and Justin Engel receive wildcards for the main field.
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Sport Current | 16.05.2025 | 5:17 p.m.
