While Jannik Sinner withdrew, the crowd in Hamburg will still watch a top-tier player! The hometown hero Alexander Zverev took a wild card following his quarter-final exit at the Rome Masters.

Instead of training in Paris ahead of Roland Garros, the German will seek form and a trophy at home following recent successes at the home event. Alexander conquered this event in 2023 and lost a tight final last year.

With Lorenzo Musetti, Holger Rune, Tommy Paul and Stefanos Tsitsipas joining Sinner on the withdrawal list, Zverev will be the top favorite at the home ATP 500 event.

Alexander’s decision to compete in Hamburg marks a timely opportunity for redemption after a frustrating loss to Musetti in Rome.

World no. 2 openly criticized the balls and conditions at Foro Italico.

He will try to leave the failed title defense behind and chase 500 ATP points in his hometown.

The 28-year-old will try to regroup on familiar soil, backed by the home fans that have been supporting him since 2013.

With Sinner’s absence removing one of the tournament’s headline names, Zverev now takes on the spotlight, aiming to capture his second home ATP 500 crown of the season after Munich.

Zverev debuted in Hamburg in 2013 and reached the semi-final a year later following a breakthrough run.

The German notched another semi-final in 2019 before missing the hometown event for a couple of years.

He returned in 2023 and bested Laslo Djere in the final, lifting a trophy and trying to defend it last year.

Alexander reached another final before experiencing a tight 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 loss to Arthur Fils.

The two rivals battled for over three and a half hours! Fils produced a little miracle and denied 21 of 22 break points. The Frenchman created only four break points and saved three.

The home favorite claimed the second set and served well in the decider. Arthur defended all five break points and clinched the tie break 7-1 to emerge at the top and lift a trophy.