Alexander Zverev Kicks Off Bitpanda Open with Strong Victory

Hamburg, Germany – Alexander Zverev, the world No. 3 tennis player, made a surprise entry into the “Bitpanda Open” on Friday, aiming to regain positive energy before the upcoming French Open.

In his first match of the ATP-500 tournament, Zverev defeated U.S. qualifier Aleksandar Kovacevic in straight sets, 6-1, 7-6. After the match, he expressed relief, saying, “The first one and a half sets were almost perfect, then I lost concentration for a bit.” Zverev dominated with his powerful serves, reaching speeds of up to 137 mph, leaving Kovacevic with little chance.

Despite the celebrations of local soccer team HSV happening simultaneously at Hamburg’s Town Hall, Zverev attracted around 5,000 fans to the Center Court. He remarked, “I’m so happy to be here. I believe most sports fans were at the Town Hall today, but I expect it will be different on Wednesday.” His next opponent in the round of 16 is France’s Alexandre Muller, whom Zverev called a “great clay-court player,” stating, “If I focus on my game, I can be successful.”

Last year, Zverev won his home tournament 30 years after Michael Stich, the last German champion, and he faced a tough defeat in the finals in 2024 to Arthur Fils.

On the same day, the tournament held a special event for children, inviting 1,000 kids to the venue. This was highlighted by an exciting match between Jan-Lennard Struff and young talent Justin Engel, who is considered a rising star in German tennis.

Engel, 17, made headlines after defeating Struff 7-6, 7-6, marking his first win against a top-100 player. The victory was personal, as Engel revealed that Struff had once babysat him. “That was the best match of my life! Everything went perfectly today,” Engel exclaimed after his win. He expressed excitement at the experience of playing on the prestigious Center Court and looks forward to facing Andrey Rublev in the next round.

Zverev praised Engel before the match, saying, “Justin is undoubtedly a great talent. He can play tennis very well – that’s obvious.” With both established and new players shining in Hamburg, the tournament promises to be an exciting showcase of talent.