Alexander Zverev accepts Wild Card for a tournament he recently said ‘no top player’ would attend

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Alexander Zverev’s Italian Open title defence didn’t go to plan, as he fell at the quarterfinal stage.

In 2024, Zverev beat Nicolas Jarry to win the Italian Open title for the second time in his career.

Failing in a bid to defend his title, Zverev lost to Lorenzo Musetti in the quarterfinals of this year’s tournament, 6-7, 4-6.

The result capped off a disappointing clay Masters 1000 campaign for Zverev, who lost his opening match in Monte-Carlo and in the fourth round of the Madrid Open.

Looking to return to winning ways ahead of the French Open, the world number two has made a bold move just one week before the tournament begins.

Alexander Zverev accepts Wild Card for the Hamburg Open one week before Roland Garros

Following his exit from the Italian Open, Zverev accepted a Wild Card into the Hamburg Open, where he reached the final in 2024.

The news comes after several top players withdrew from the event, including world number one Jannik Sinner.

2025 Hamburg Open withdrawals

• Jannik Sinner
• Lorenzo Musetti
• Holger Rune
• Tommy Paul
• Stefanos Tsitsipas
• Ugo Humbert
• Sebastian Korda

The Hamburg Open was moved to just one week before the French Open in the 2025 ATP Tour calendar, a decision Zverev himself criticized during an interview with Magenta TV last month.

“I just don’t know who had the idea to schedule Hamburg, an ATP 500 tournament, one day before the French Open. How stupid can that be?” said Zverev.

“I don’t know who had that idea. No top player or someone who wants to win the French Open can play the final in Hamburg on Saturday and then play the first round of the French Open on Monday.”

Zverev insisted he and other top players would skip the event, instead choosing to prepare for their opening matches in the French capital.

“In the week before the French Open, [Carlos] Alcaraz won’t play, and I won’t play. [Novak] Djokovic won’t play,” he said.

“No player with an eye on the French Open will play there. Jannik Sinner registered because he’s suspended and has to play a tournament.”

Having now changed his mind, Zverev will return to Hamburg in 2025, as the only top-ten player competing at the event.

The move could pay off for Zverev, who is in desperate need of confidence after suffering disappointing defeats in Madrid and Rome.

He’s already picked up an ATP 500 title in Germany this year, winning in Munich last month, a feat he’d no doubt love to repeat ahead of the French Open.

Zverev beat Ben Shelton in the final to clinch the Bavarian Tennis Championships, taking home his first title of the season.

A title in Hamburg, an event which begins on Monday, May 19, could help Zverev rediscover his form ahead of Roland Garros.

How well has Alexander Zverev performed at the French Open during his career?

Regardless of his form heading into the year’s second Grand Slam, Zverev will likely be considered one of the favorites, thanks to his performances in Paris throughout his career.

The German has reached the semi-finals in each of the previous four editions of the French Open, as he continues to make his presence felt on the Parisian clay.

• 2024 French Open F – Alexander Zverev lost to Carlos Alcaraz, 3-6, 6-2, 7-5, 1-6, 2-6
• 2023 French Open SF – Alexander Zverev lost to Casper Ruud, 3-6, 4-6, 0-6
• 2022 French Open SF – Alexander Zverev lost to Rafael Nadal, 6-7, 6-6 (RET)
• 2021 French Open SF – Alexander Zverev lost to Stefanos Tsitsipas, 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 3-6

Zverev lost to Alcaraz in a deciding set in last year’s final, falling just short of winning his maiden Grand Slam title.

He’ll be hoping to go one better in 2025, and extend his impressive record at his most successful Grand Slam event.

The 28-year-old will first set his sights on a strong showing at the Hamburg Open, which begins on Monday, May 19.

Geneva Open hit by mass withdrawals

The Hamburg Open shares its place on the calendar with the Geneva Open, an ATP 250 event in Switzerland.

Unfortunately, the event suffered the same fate as Hamburg, as several players withdrew ahead of the event.

• Casper Ruud
• Grigor Dimitrov
• Tallon Griekspoor
• Lorenzo Sonego
• Denis Shapovalov
• Jordan Thompson

Defending champion Casper Ruud will be sorely missed, having won more titles (3) than any other player in the history of the Geneva Open.

It remains to be seen if Taylor Fritz and Djokovic, the two highest-ranked players left in the draw, will join Ruud in withdrawing.

Fans in Switzerland will certainly hope they choose to compete, as both players are scheduled to play their opening matches on Tuesday, May 20.