Doubles players don't have it easy at professional level. In the first rounds of ATP tournaments, the matches usually take place on the side courts, as was the case in Halle. From the semi-finals onwards, the doubles get the big stage on Centre Court. But even before that, it's worth taking a look at the stars of the scene.
This year, the title at the 32nd TERRA WORTMANN OPEN will only go to the two world-class doubles teams Kevin Krawietz/Tim Pütz and Simone Bolelli/Andrea Vavassori. The two teams are seeded first and second and also played in the final in Halle a year ago. The Italians Bolelli/Vavassori narrowly beat the German showpiece combination 7:6 and 7:6. Bolelli/Vavassori had already reached the final in 2023, but lost to Marcelo Melo/John Peers.
However, the tournament's number one seeds are Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz, who are ranked fifth and sixth in the doubles world rankings. Fifth place for the 33-year-old Krawietz is the best ranking for a doubles player from Germany since the doubles world rankings were introduced in 1976. "Fifth place in the rankings reads very, very nicely, of course. It also feels very good. But there's a big but behind that: it's important for me to emphasise that it's not up to me alone in doubles, of course, but that I always have a partner at my side," Krawietz told tennis.de.
Before Krawietz/Pütz can dream of the title, the duo must first get through the first round. Andre Göransson and Sem Verbeek are anything but a pushover. In mid-April, the Swedish-Dutch doubles pair won the tournament in Munich - with a two-set victory in the final against Krawietz/Pütz. They got their revenge shortly afterwards in Madrid, when the Germans narrowly prevailed in the round of 16.
On their mission to defend the title, Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori will play Marcelo Melo and Alexander Zverev in round one. The now 41-year-old Brazilian Melo is a doubles specialist who has won two Grand Slam titles in his career (Paris and Wimbledon). Together with his friend Zverev, he wants to upset the second seeded doubles team from Italy. However, Bolelli/Vavassori are the clear favourites, especially as Zverev has hardly made an appearance in doubles in recent months.
