Anticipation is building for the 33rd TERRA WORTMANN OPEN: Alexander Zverev arrived in East Westphalia on Wednesday evening. After landing at Paderborn/Lippstadt Airport, Germany’s top tennis player was taken by shuttle to Halle/Westphalia, where tournament director Ralf Weber and Sven Wortmann, managing director of the heristo-arena stadium company, welcomed him with a custom-made Eiffel Tower cake.
The sweet treat was, of course, a nod to Zverev’s triumph in Paris at the French Open, where the 29-year-old fulfilled his long-awaited dream of winning a Grand Slam title last Sunday. This marks Zverev’s first appearance at the TERRA WORTMANN OPEN as a major champion. “This is my tenth time coming to Halle. Of course, my goal now is to win here for the first time,” said Zverev, who was wearing a jersey from the German national soccer team upon his arrival late Wednesday evening.
“The fact that a superstar like Alexander is arriving four days before the tournament starts shows how comfortable he feels here and how great his ambition is. He wants to prepare optimally for the tournament and win the title here for the first time. That’s a strong signal and a great show of appreciation for our event,” says tournament director Ralf Weber.
Alexander Zverev has reached the final of the East Westphalian grass-court classic twice before: in 2016, he lost to Florian Mayer in three sets, and in 2017, he was defeated by Roger Federer. Over the past three years, he has also reached the semifinals each time, consistently ranking among the top favorites.
“Over the past few years, Alexander has become one of the defining faces of our tournament. His performances on and off the court inspire the fans. Coming to Halle now, following his triumph at the French Open, is something very special. We are delighted to welcome him back,” explains Sven Wortmann, managing partner and representative of Wortmann AG.
The excitement is also clearly palpable among tennis fans. Demand for tickets remains high; only a few remaining tickets are available at the heristo-arena box office for the tournament opener on Monday. Many spectators are also hoping to see Germany’s number one up close as early as the qualifying weekend.
On Sunday at 2:00 p.m., Alexander Zverev will be honored on Center Court for his victory at the French Open. An autograph session with the crowd favorite is also scheduled for the afternoon. As is tradition, admission is free during the qualifying weekend—that is, on Saturday and Sunday. Tennis fans thus have the opportunity to see top international pros and promising young talents up close while also welcoming the French Open champion to Halle.
It’s also worth taking a look at the tournament’s history: in fact, this is only the fifth time that a reigning French Open champion has competed in Halle/Westphalia. Previously, it was Carlos Moyá in 1998, Yevgeny Kafelnikov in 1996, and Rafael Nadal in 2006, 2012, and 2014.
With Alexander Zverev, one of the world’s best tennis players is once again leading the star-studded field of the 33rd TERRA WORTMANN OPEN. The stage is set for an extraordinary tournament week—and perhaps Germany’s number one will finally achieve his long-awaited first title on the grass courts of Halle/Westphalia this year.
