After reaching the final of the French Open, Alexander Zverev will not take part in the ATP tournament at Stuttgart’s Weissenhof. The organizer announced this on Friday after the Hamburger’s 7:5, 6:2, 3:6, 6:3 win in Paris against Jakub Mensik. The 20-year-old Czech and Zverev’s Italian opponent in the final, Flavio Cobolli, also decided not to start.
“The fact that Alexander Zverev is now putting all his focus on the French Open is all too understandable and comprehensible. We wish him all the best for the final in Paris and keep our fingers crossed for him,” said tournament director Edwin Weindorfer: “A success for Sascha in Roland Garros would give German tennis a huge boost, so we will also be following the events in France closely on Sunday.”
Zverev lost the final of the grass tournament last year against the American Taylor Fritz. The defending champion is there again this year, with his compatriot and number five in the world Ben Shelton leading the seeding list for the 250cc competition.
After the changes to the list of participants, there are four German players in the main field: Yannick Hanfmann, Daniel Altmaier, Jan-Lennard Struff and last year’s quarter-finalist Justin Engel. The first round in Stuttgart begins on Monday.