The Olympic champion is set to appear in his hometown. Alexander Zverev has confirmed his entry for the 2023 Hamburg European Open. “I’m delighted to be back at the Hamburg European Open for the first time since 2019. Winning the tournament is a huge childhood dream of mine,” said the 26-year-old local hero who was the first German to win the men’s singles gold medal in Tokyo in 2021. He was subsequently named his country’s Sportsman of the Year. “I hope I’ll have the crowd right behind me and I’m sure we’ll have a wonderful week of tennis together.” After the world No. 4 Casper Ruud (Norway) announced his coming, Zverev is the second top star to confirm his entry for the 117^th edition of the Rothenbaum tournament (22-30 July 2023).

Having dropped to No. 16 after suffering a serious ankle injury, the former world No. 2 is currently climbing his way back up the world rankings. He will compete at his home tournament for the sixth time. Aged just 17 in 2014, he sensationally reached the semifinals before going on to become a star on the big tennis stage. In 2019, he repeated his semifinal appearance but lost to the eventual tournament winner Nikoloz Basilashvili (Georgia) after failing to convert two match points.

“It was our big goal to present Alexander Zverev in his hometown. It will be his first appearance in Hamburg since his Olympic victory, and I hope the people of Hamburg will give him a great reception. Alexander is someone who can get the crowd right behind him and he can ignite an electrifying atmosphere in the Rothenbaum stadium,” says Tournament Director Sandra Reichel. “If Alexander hadn’t suffered the serious injury in the French Open semifinals, he could well have become the world No. 1. He’ll get back to top form very soon. I’m certain he’ll win several Grand Slam titles.”

Hamburg’s sports senator Andy Grote says of Alexander Zverev’s upcoming appearance in the city: “I’m really delighted that we can welcome Alexander Zverev back fit and well to his home city for the Hamburg European Open. His home crowd is sure to support him as one of their own, especially after his injury layoff. Together with Caspar Ruud, the current world No. 4, he will head a top-class field of players again this year. We are looking forward to many breathtaking and enthralling matches.”

Alexander Otto, the patron and entrepreneur, who is a great supporter of the Hamburg European Open, is also thrilled about Zverev’s coming: “I’m delighted that we will finally be able to see Alexander Zverev live again at the Rothenbaum. He is not only a world class tennis player, but as a local hero he will captivate the whole city. With him in the line-up, expectations ahead of the tournament will grow all the time. Sandra Reichel is doing an admirable job in bringing the top players to Hamburg this year.”

Zverev has 19 career titles to his name so far, including triumphs at the 2018 ATP Finals in London and in Turin in 2021, as well as five Masters 1000 titles. As for Grand Slams,

his best results are reaching the US Open final (2020) and semifinals at both the Australian Open (2020) and the French Open (2021 and 2022).

Born in Hamburg, he grew up together 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.