So the field for the BMW Open by Bitpanda is now complete: seven of the eight qualifying finalists have made it into the main draw, four as winners and three as so-called ‘lucky losers’. That doesn’t happen very often. Unfortunately, Diego Dedura-Palomero from Berlin is not among them. Aged just 17 and having been awarded a wildcard for the qualifiers, he lost to Alexander Bublik from Kazakhstan (3–6, 3–6) and was then unlucky in the draw. Nevertheless, it’s a huge success for the world number 546, who had previously celebrated his first victory on the ATP Tour.
Alexander Zverev caused a stir again today. During his training session, just as on Saturday, spectators gathered in such numbers that it was impossible to get through. “If the weather stays like this, I hope to go far,” he said, and the weather gods are already providing ideal conditions. Mild temperatures and plenty of sunshine are forecast for this week. In the first round, the 2017 and 2018 champion will face an old acquaintance, Alexandre Muller from France: “We played together a lot at junior level and are the same age,” says Zverev, who will be celebrating his 28th birthday on the final Sunday of the BMW Open by Bitpanda. He doesn’t want to focus on the Frenchman, ranked 39th in the world: “I hope I can play some good tennis; then I won’t have to concentrate on my opponent.”
Jan-Lennard Struff faces a really tough challenge; he has to take on the Argentine clay-court specialist Francisco Cerundolo, ranked 22nd in the world. The defending champion at the BMW Open by Bitpanda has had a difficult spell, having to cope with many painful defeats, but he’s not letting it get him down: “There are simply phases like this, but I’ve always prided myself on never giving up. And at some point, things will get better again. I really hope that happens here in Munich, thanks to that amazing feeling from last year.” It was at the BMW Open last year that Struff secured his first and only victory on the ATP Tour.
Alongside Struff and Zverev, Daniel Altmaier, Yannick Hanfmann and Justin Engel will play in the main draw of the BMW Open by Bitpanda. Daniel Altmaier will play Chun-Hsin Tseng (TPE), Yannick Hanfmann will take on Jakub Mensik (CZE) and Justin Engel, who was given a wild card by tournament director Patrik Kühnen, will play Fabian Marozsan (HUN).
There will also be a premiere on Monday: the long-term "Future Aces" programme, which was initiated together with partners. This initiative gives socially disadvantaged children and young people from Munich access to tennis and aims to give them a broader perspective for the future. Title partner BMW, MTTC Iphitos and organiser MMP have joined forces for "Future Aces". Every ace in the tournament results in a donated coaching lesson at MTTC Iphitos for children and young people with difficult starting conditions. This is flanked by offers such as information days and internships in the club and BMW Open environment.
