ATP Cologne: Zverev, Monfils, Murray and Co. want the double blow
The ATP double pack in Cologne will offer world-class tennis at the highest level! This is not only guaranteed by the three top ten stars Alexander Zverev (ATP rank 7), Gael Monfils (FRA / 9) and Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP / 10), but also numerous other top-class players, who will take part from 10 to 18 October, 2020, and from October 18 to 25, 2020 in the LANXESS arena.
by PM
last edit: Sep 18, 2020, 07:15 am
So did Andy Murray with the three-time Grand Slam triumphant and Marin Cilic , 2014 US Open Champion, two major tournament winners, have confirmed their participation in both ATP 250 tournaments. In addition to the US Open finalist Alexander Zverev, Jan-Lennard Struff also the current German number two in Cologne. The bett1HULKS Indoors, for which the entry deadline was already last Monday, shine with four top 20 and no less than twelve top 50 players. The bett1HULKS Championship, for which the registration period runs until next Monday, will also have a similarly strong line-up. In addition to Zverev, Murray, Monfils and Cilic, the world rankings 15. Diego Schwartzman (ARG) and young star Jannik Sinner (ITA) reported.
“The fields of participants in the two bett1HULKS events are simply sensational! As an organizer, you normally have weeks to set up a suitable field of players. Due to the short-term inclusion of the two Cologne tournaments in the ATP calendar, we now had just five days to do so. With an Alexander Zverev in top form and an increasingly strong playing Jan-Lennard Struff, two Germans are also among the favorites in Cologne, which of course also includes Andy Murray and Marin Cilic, "says tournament director Barbara Rittner firmly.
Model for the future?
“A cut-off of 65 - the world ranking position that is necessary to be in the main field - shows the great quality of the bett1HULKS Indoors. I am convinced that the second tournament will also be very strong. The fields of participants are also remarkable because in the first week of Cologne there will be an ATP 500 tournament in St. Petersburg and a 250 event in Sardinia. But we were able to score very well with the players with a convincing overall and security concept. Usually we prepare our ATP tournaments in Stuttgart, Vienna or Mallorca for months - here in Cologne we don't have more than five weeks for this. This is a great challenge that can only be mastered thanks to the great support from our main sponsor bett1, our other partners, the City of Cologne and the LANXESS arena, ”emphasizes Edwin Weindorfer, CEO of the organizing e | motion group.
“Due to the corona situation, two consecutive tournaments at the same venue could be an important option for the future. From this point of view, the two bett1HULKS events in Cologne are probably also trend-setting ”, adds Weindorfer.