ATP Hamburg: Alexander Zverev at Rothenbaum - tournament victory would be "a huge childhood dream"
The Olympic champion hits his hometown! Alexander Zverev made his early commitment to the Hamburg European Open 2023.
by p.m
last edit: Apr 25, 2023, 01:39 pm
“I am happy to be back at the Hamburg European Open for the first time since 2019. Winning the tournament is a huge childhood dream of mine,” says the 26-year-old “Hamburger Jung”, who was the first male German tennis professional to win Olympic individual gold in Tokyo in 2021 and was subsequently named Germany’s “Athlete of the Year”. "I hope for the loud support of the audience and I'm sure that we will experience a wonderful week of tennis together." After Casper Ruud from Norway, fourth in the world rankings, Zverev is already the second top star to play for the 117th edition of the Rothenbaum tournament (July 22 to July 30, 2023).
The former number two in the world is currently fighting his way back to the top after suffering a serious foot injury from world number 16. Zverev is starting his home tournament for the sixth time. In 2014, with his sensational participation in the semi-finals as a 17-year-old, his star had risen on the big tennis stage - in 2019 Zverev repeated the semi-finals when he lost to the eventual tournament winner Nikoloz Basilashvili (Georgia) after two missed match balls.
The tournament director and officials are very happy about the start
"It was our big goal to present Alexander Zverev in his hometown. It will be his first tennis appearance in Hamburg since his Olympic victory, and I hope that the people of Hamburg will give him a great reception. Alexander is someone who sweeps the audience away with his emotions and can spark an electrifying atmosphere in the Rothenbaum Stadium," says tournament director Sandra Reichel. "If Alexander hadn't suffered this serious injury in the semi-finals of the French Open last year, I think he would have been number one in the world by now. He will be back at his absolute best very soon. I still trust him with several Grand Slam titles.”
Hamburg's Sports Senator Andy Grote says about Alexander Zverev's upcoming appearance in Hamburg: "I'm really happy that we can welcome Alexander Zverev fit and healthy again in his hometown of Hamburg at the Hamburg European Open. This year, the Hamburg audience will certainly support him enthusiastically after his injury break. Together with the signing of Caspar Ruud, the current number four in the world, there will be a top-class field of players again this year. We look forward to many breathtaking and captivating matches.”
A real homecoming
The patron and entrepreneur Alexander Otto, who is a major sponsor of the Hamburg European Open, is also enthusiastic about Zverev's commitment to start: "I'm really happy that we can finally see Alexander Zverev live again at Rothenbaum. Not only will he show world-class tennis, but as a local hero he will cast a spell over the whole city. With him, the anticipation for the tournament increases even more. It is admirable which top players Sandra Reichel is bringing to Hamburg this year.”
Zverev has 19 career titles to his name, including triumphs at the ATP Finals in London 2018 and Turin 2021, as well as five Masters 1000 titles. In the Grand Slam tournaments, his best results are reaching the US Open final (2020), semi-finals in Australia (2020) and the French Open (2021 and 2022).
Born in Hamburg, he grew up sportingly with his older brother Mischa (35) at UHC Hamburg, where his parents Irina and Alexander Senior worked as coaches. His family still owns a house in Lemsahl-Mellingstedt in the north of Hamburg.