ATP Halle: Federer, Medvedev, Zverev and the "best field of participants of all time"
At the traditional ATP Tour 500 tournament in Halle / Westphalia, an incredibly strong field of participants has announced itself again. Led by record winner Roger Federer , ATP world champion Daniil Medvedev and Germany's number one Alexander Zverev .
by PM
last edit: May 20, 2021, 02:32 pm
ATP world champion Daniil Medvedev leads the elite field of players
From a distance, however, the tennis fans will be able to experience one of the most exciting and high-quality tournaments ever. Because established stars from the next generation and exciting newcomers are fighting together with “Superman” Federer, the artistic lawn specialist, for the trophy at Germany's most important ATP tournament. The entry list is headed by ATP world champion Daniil Medvedev (Russia), the current number two in the world rankings.
After his tournament success in Marseille, Medvedev was the first player beyond the Big Four (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray) to take this excellent position in the spring of 2005. “I've heard so many great things about the tournament. Of course, my goal is to win in Halle. But the field is very well filled. It's going to be really difficult, ”says Medvedev. The 25-year-old Muscovite is already "one of the outstanding personalities on the tour, a very special character", explains tournament director Ralf Weber. "We are happy that he is celebrating his debut in Halle."
Germany's tennis star Alexander Zverev wants to win the trophy
However, Germany's number one, the 24-year-old Hamburg-based Alexander Zverev (ATP 6), also wants to have an important say in the awarding of the title of the NOVENTI OPEN. "After two finals, I now want to take the last step and win the trophy," says Zverev, who recently gained a lot of self-confidence with his Masters victory in Madrid. He is also one of the favorites for the title at the French Open, which starts the weekend after next.
“Sascha is establishing himself more and more confidently in the top of the world. Winning the title with us is definitely high on his wish list, ”says tournament director Ralf Weber. Zverev had reached the final in 2016 and 2017, still in his teenage years, but failed due to compatriot Florian Mayer and Roger Federer. In the doubles competition, he and his brother Mischa have already made it into the final twice, where the family duo lost each time against the combination of Lukasz Kubot / Marcelo Melo (Poland / Brazil).
The Russian Andrey Rublev completes the top ten quartet
The top ten quartet is completed by 23-year-old Andrey Rublev (Russia / ATP 7), one of the strongest players in recent months. In the second half of 2020 Rublev won three 500 tournaments (Hamburg, Vienna, St. Petersburg) and qualified for the ATP Tour Final. In the current season, the powder man confirmed his class: At the ATP Cup he jumped confidently on the podium with the Russian team, then he advanced to the quarter-finals at the Australian Open, where he failed against his buddy Medvedev. But at the first-class ATP competition in Rotterdam, the Muscovite was on top again, after winning the trophy over Andy Murray and Stefanos Tsitsipas, among others. “At the moment I'm playing very consistently at a high level. I also want to be at the forefront in Halle, ”says Rublev. He is currently third in the 2021 ATP Race to Turin (annual ranking), while Zverev and Medvedev are fourth and fifth.
Spain's top player Roberto Bautista Agut and Belgium's streaker David Goffin
Spain’s top player Roberto Bautista Agut (ATP 11), like Belgium’s speedster David Goffin (ATP 13), is targeting a cup coup at the lawn meeting in HalleWestfalen as a secret favorite. Bautista Agut, a model of consistency in touring, has played a strong role several times in the past, with two quarter-finals (2017 and 2019) and a semi-final in 2018. “I'm looking forward to returning to Halle, I always play good tennis there and I feel very good, ”says the 33-year-old. At the NOVENTI OPEN 2019, the Spaniard had made the eventual champion Roger Federer sweat a lot in the round of the last eight and only had to admit defeat after a hard-fought three-set match.
For Goffin (ATP 13), too, many Halle memories are associated with the name Federer: In the final in 2019 as well as in the quarter-finals in 2016, the duel with the ten-time tournament winner was the end of all one's own hopes. Like Rublev and Bautista Agut, Goffin is about to participate in the top-class ATP in HalleWestfalen for the fourth time. Goffin recently caused a stir with his last 16 win against Alexander Zverev at the Monte Carlo Masters, before he had two top results with the win in Montpellier and the semi-finals in Antalya.
Other German stars: local hero Jan-Lennard Struff and Dominik Koepfer
In addition to Alexander Zverev, two other German professionals will be at the start: Local hero Jan-Lennard Struff will serve for the eighth time at home in June. The 31-year-old Warsteiner, meanwhile one of the pillars of the German Davis Cup team, is currently ranked 42nd in the world. The preliminary trio is completed by the 27-year-old Dominik Koepfer from the Black Forest (ATP 59), who wrote one of the most remarkable stories of advancement in the tennis circuit in 2019. Koepfer got into professional business through American college tennis. Tournament director Ralf Weber gave 20-year-old Rudi Molleker (ATP 260) from Berlin a wild card for qualification.
Good friends in HalleWestfalen: Karen Khachanov and Kei Nishikori
Good acquaintances in HalleWestfalen are also Russia's former top ten man Karen Khachanov (ATP 26) and Japan's ace Kei Nishikori (ATP 48), both with the potential for some favorite falls and a smaller title perspective. “We are happy to be able to welcome so many stars in Halle. However, this is only possible with the support of our long-term sponsors ”, says tournament director Ralf Weber.
Interesting perspective players in the cast list
Momentum players who recently appeared in the international headlines are also on the cast list for the top event: The Pole Hubert Hurkacz (24 years old / ATP 18) has already won two tournaments this season, he also triumphed for the first time at a Masters, namely in Miami . In addition, shooting star Hurkacz was the first to cross the finish line in Delary Beach. The 20-year-old Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime (ATP 19) is also traded as the upcoming top ten man and Grand Slam winner. He was in the final of one of the ATP preparation tournaments for the Australian Open in Melbourne in 2021. There is also top talent Sebastian Korda (20 / ATP 65), who this year confidently established himself on the ATP Tour and advanced to the final in Delray Beach, among other places. Father Petr Korda was once one of the pioneers in HalleWestfalen, including in the 1997 final against Russian Yevgeny Kafelnikov.