Rothenbaum is opening a new chapter in its long tennis history: with the MSC Hamburg Ladies Open and the Hamburg Wheelchair Open, Hamburg will experience a tennis festival from 19 to 26 July 2026 that has never been seen in the city before. Top international players, Germany's largest international women's wheelchair tennis tournament, an extensive family programme and numerous attractions will make the traditional Rothenbaum the sporting heart of the Hanseatic city for a week.
This does not only focus on top international sport. On the grounds of the „At “Der Club an der Alster", visitors can expect a unique mix of world-class tennis, participation activities and a varied family programme – everything that goes into a perfect summer holiday day.
Particular attention is paid to an attractive experience for children and families. In addition to numerous play and activity offerings, a children's point pass with various interactive stations will be available across the entire event site from Thursday.
Highlights include:
- The MSC Kids area with a tennis wall and giant Jenga, among other things.
- The Mercedes-Benz Signature Court, where three players can play tennis simultaneously.
- The LI-Zoo-School in cooperation with the Hagenbeck Zoo. Here, animals can be experienced with all the senses. Playful physical activities invite children and families to try out the abilities of different animals for themselves.
- A LEGO® interactive station where tennis balls are built from LEGO bricks.
- Numerous further movement and activity options for children.
The Rothenbaum will thus be much more than just a tennis stadium – during the Hamburg summer holidays, it will become a meeting place for the whole family. That is why the admission prices are particularly family-friendly: children up to and including the age of 10 get in for free. Young people up to the age of 16 pay just 10 euros. On the day of the final, admission is free for all children and young people up to the age of 16.
Top-class sport at the highest international level
Sportingly, the MSC Hamburg Ladies Open again presents a highly interesting field of participants. The WTA 250 tournament offers numerous German players the opportunity to compete against top international players.
The spotlight is on the local heroines in particular:
- Tamara Korpatsch (Hamburg), who, thanks to her strong performances this year, has been Germany’s new number one since this week.
- Noma Noha Akugue (Glinde), A finalist at the 2023 Hamburg Ladies Open and a crowd favourite at Rothenbaum, who has been awarded a wild card for the main draw.
- Tessa Brockmann from Itzehoe will receive another main draw wildcard.
The last two wildcards will be awarded on Saturday. Meanwhile, three of the four qualifying wildcards have also been awarded to German players. Nastasja Schunk, Julia Stusek and Valentina Steiner are battling it out for a place in the main draw. Steiner made it through the qualifiers last year as well: „I'm very pleased that I get to start here in Hamburg. It's a great honour for me. I still have very good memories from last year, when I first qualified for a WTA main draw. I felt at home on the premises from the first day and the organisation here is truly exceptional,“ says the 19-year-old.
Legends on Court: Martina and Andrea are taking Hamburg by storm
The final day on Sunday, 26 July 2026, gets an encore: In an exclusive exhibition match, the former world number one and 25-time Grand Slam champion Martina Hingis and the former top-10 player and current tournament ambassador Andrea Petkovic opposite. Two outstanding personalities of ladies' tennis, who will provide the best entertainment with their skill, charisma and enthusiasm for the sport. All tickets for the final day are also valid for this exhibition match. It starts at 12 noon.
Premiere for the Hamburg Wheelchair Open
From Thursday 23 July, the Hamburg Wheelchair Open will be held for the first time alongside the MSC Hamburg Ladies Open. The ITF 500 tournament is the largest international women’s wheelchair tennis tournament in Germany and sends a strong message about the link between elite sport and inclusion.
The star-studded field of participants includes numerous top international players. Among those taking part are the two German internationals Britta Wend and Katharina Krüger. All the players entered are in the top 30 of the world rankings.
The Dutch player is seeded number one Aniek van Koot, a multiple Grand Slam winner and one of the most successful wheelchair tennis players of recent years. The Frenchwoman Ksenia Chasteau is regarded as one of the most promising young talents in wheelchair tennis. Most recently, the 20-year-old reached her first Grand Slam final at her home tournament, Roland Garros.
The fact that both tournaments are being held at the same venue makes the Rothenbaum a place where excellence, diversity and active inclusion are all equally central.
Sandra Reichel, Tournament Director:
„With the MSC Hamburg Ladies Open and the Hamburg Wheelchair Open, we are sending a clear message in support of women’s sport and inclusion in Hamburg. We are delighted that we have succeeded in developing both events to such a high international standard and in hosting them together at Rothenbaum for the first time.
I would like to extend my special thanks to all our partners who are joining us on this journey – in particular our title sponsor MSC, the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, and ECE. Without their support, this development would not be possible.
I would like to warmly invite everyone in Hamburg to visit the Rothenbaum during the summer holidays. Families with children, in particular, can look forward to a varied day featuring top-class international sport, plenty of hands-on activities and an exceptional programme of events. “We want to turn the Rothenbaum into a place where sport brings people together and everyone is welcome for a whole week.”
Andrea Petkovic, tournament ambassador for the MSC Hamburg Ladies Open:
„I’m incredibly much looking forward to the MSC Hamburg Ladies Open and to experiencing women’s tennis at the very highest level at Rothenbaum once again. Hamburg is a very special tennis venue – the fans are knowledgeable, passionate and can give a player an incredible amount of energy. I know from my own experience what a difference the support of a full stadium can make. That’s why I’m confident the German players can go far.”.
I would also like to warmly recommend the Hamburg Wheelchair Open to all visitors. Wheelchair tennis is top-class sport at its most impressive. The fact that we are able to experience Germany’s largest international women’s wheelchair tennis tournament here at Rothenbaum, running alongside the MSC Hamburg Ladies Open, is a huge boon for the sport of tennis and for Hamburg. Playing an exhibition match against Martina Hingis before the grand final on Centre Court is a special honour for me. I believe the fans can look forward to a truly spectacular tennis event.“.
Nils Kahn, Managing Director of MSC Germany:
„We are very much looking forward to this year’s MSC Hamburg Ladies Open. Our debut as title sponsor last year already demonstrated the enthusiasm this tournament can generate in Hamburg. With a strong field of players and the Hamburg Wheelchair Open taking place for the first time, the event is continuing to develop steadily. For MSC, the tournament is an expression of our close ties with Hamburg – a city that has played a central role in our history for 50 years. We wish all the players every success and hope the spectators enjoy a fantastic week of tennis at Rothenbaum.“
Dr Jonas Leder, Director of the Sports Department at the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg:
„The MSC Hamburg Ladies Open are an important showcase for Hamburg as a sporting location. The tournament sends a strong message for women's sport and impressively demonstrates the appeal and enthusiasm that top-class women's tennis can generate in Hamburg. The inaugural integration of the Wheelchair Tennis tournament, in particular, is an important step towards greater visibility and participation in sport. In doing so, the event underscores the values that Hamburg stands for as an Active City: performance, diversity, and inclusion. The MSC Hamburg Ladies Open enrich our city's sporting calendar and strengthen Hamburg's position as an international sports metropolis.“
Torben Beltz, Head Coach of the Women's German Tennis Association (DTB):
„It's a great opportunity for the young players to test themselves against international competition here at home and to go hunting for world ranking points. We have many good, young up-and-coming players who will be playing in Hamburg. Some still need a little time, but that's precisely why a tournament like this is so important. At the same time, we have the current best German player, Tamara Korpatsch, competing, who always feels particularly at home here and certainly has a good chance of going far or perhaps even winning the tournament.“