STUTTGART/STARNBERG, April 28, 2026
The player field for the 2026 BOSS OPEN in Stuttgart (June 6–14) continues to take on an increasingly star-studded shape. Following the early confirmations of world No. 1 German Alexander Zverev and defending champion Taylor Fritz, two more Top 20 stars have now entered the grass-court event: Italy’s Flavio Cobolli and Monaco’s Valentin Vacherot. Rising Czech talent Jakub Mensik will also make his debut at the Weissenhof.
Few players have made a bigger impact on the ATP Tour in recent months than Vacherot. The 27-year-old’s meteoric rise began at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Shanghai last October, where he stunned the tennis world by winning the title as world No. 204—the lowest-ranked champion in Masters history. Along the way, he defeated record Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the semifinals and then overcame his cousin Arthur Rinderknech in a remarkable final.
Vacherot has continued his breakthrough in 2026, reaching the semifinals of his home tournament in Monte Carlo and breaking into the Top 20 for the first time. “I’m really excited to play the BOSS OPEN for the first time,” he said. “After strong results on hard courts in Shanghai and on clay in Monte Carlo, I’m aiming to perform well on grass too—starting in Stuttgart.”
Cobolli and Mensik represent the next generation of stars on the ATP Tour. The 23-year-old Italian has already claimed titles in Bucharest and Hamburg in 2025 and added another trophy in Acapulco this season, alongside a recent final appearance in Munich. He also proved his grass-court credentials by reaching the Wimbledon quarterfinals last year. “Stuttgart is the perfect place to start the grass season,” Cobolli noted. “My goal is to gain as many matches as possible ahead of Wimbledon.”
Mensik, just 20 years old, is widely regarded as one of the most exciting young prospects in the game. After winning the Miami Masters in 2025 and adding a second ATP title in Auckland earlier this year, he now prepares for his first appearance in Stuttgart. “The tournament has an excellent reputation, and I’m really looking forward to experiencing it,” he said.
