Press release from 13/04/2025
Five German players compete in the BMW Open by Bitpanda
Alexander Zverev trains in front of enthusiastic spectators. Defending champion Struff is hoping to improve his performance in Munich.
Munich. The field of players for the BMW Open by Bitpanda is now complete: seven of the eight qualifying finalists are in the main draw, four as winners and three as lucky losers. That doesn't happen very often. Unfortunately, Diego Dedura-Palomero from Berlin is not there. The 17-year-old, who was given a wild card for the qualifiers, lost to Alexander Bublik from Kazakhstan (3:6; 3:6) and was then unlucky with his draw. Nevertheless, it was a huge success for the world number 546, as he had previously celebrated his first victory on the ATP Tour.
Alexander Zverev once again caused quite a stir today. As on Saturday, the spectators piled up at his training session, making it impossible to get through. "If the weather stays like this, I hope to go far," he said, and the weather gods are already providing the best conditions. Mild temperatures and plenty of sunshine are forecast for this week. In the first round, the 2017 and 2018 winner will face an old acquaintance, Alexandre Muller from France: "We played a lot in the juniors and are the same age," says Zverev, who celebrates his 28th birthday on the final Sunday of the BMW Open by Bitpanda. He doesn't want to get into the mindset of the Frenchman, the number 39 in the world: "I hope I can show good tennis, then I don't have to concentrate on my opponent.
Jan-Lennard Struff has a really tough task ahead of him as he faces Argentinian clay court specialist Francisco Cerundolo, the world number 22. The defending champion of the BMW Open by Bitpanda has had a difficult time, has had to cope with many painful defeats, but is not letting it get him down: "There are just phases like this, but it has always characterised me that I have never given up. And at some point, things will get better again. I really hope that it happens here in Munich, thanks to this super feeling from last year." Struff won his first and only victory on the ATP Tour last year at the BMW Open.
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.
Photo note: The attached photos can be used free of charge for editorial purposes in connection with the BMW Open by Bitpanda. Credit: "BMW Open by Bitpanda"
Attachment: Please find attached tomorrow's match schedule.