MUNICH, April 14, 2025
Alexander Zverev has kicked off his 2025 BMW Open by Bitpanda campaign in style, moving one step closer to joining Philipp Kohlschreiber as the only three-time champions in the tournament’s storied history. The top-seeded German overcame France’s Alexandre Muller 6-4, 6-1 in his opening match on a sunny Monday afternoon, delighting the Munich crowd at the MTTC Iphitos.
Backed by strong support on the new Center Court, Zverev showed a solid performance to build on. The World No. 2 converted five of his 11 break-point chances and won 58 per cent of the total points played to advance in one hour and 20 minutes.
Clinic complete ✅
Top seed @AlexZverev starts his campaign off with the a 6-4 6-1 win over Alexandre Muller #BMWOpen pic.twitter.com/FNkvy7OaBA
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 14, 2025
“After the losses in recent times it was important to come out, showing a performance like that,” Zverev reflected. “Obviously, I want to go back to my best tennis, doing well in the tournaments coming up. I am happy with my first-round win and hopefully I can play even better in the next few matches, continue to build on this form.
“The number one thing for me is to keep up the speed of the ball, so that I feel that I am in control. The focus is to swing through the shots.”
Zverev, who hasn’t reached the semis in the capital city of Bavaria since lifting the trophy in 2018, is optimistic to find his rhythm again.
“I haven’t done too well the last few years here, but I feel like I really can do well, and I hopefully will do well this year. It’s nice to see a packed Center Court on a Monday. The crowd is amazing. Everyone is enjoying the weather. Hopefully it’s going to stay like this for the entire week and we are going to have some good tennis.”
Up next for Zverev will be German wild card entry Daniel Altmaier, who edged past qualifier Chun-Hsin Tseng of Chinese Taipei, winning 7-6(5), 7-6(5) in two hours and 15 minutes.
Shelton survives Gojo in Munich debut
In the bottom half of the draw, Ben Shelton made a successful Munich debut but did it the hard way. The No. 2 seed from the United States needed to save three match points to claw past Croatian qualifier Borna Gojo 4-6, 7-6(6), 7-6(3) in two hours and 24 minutes.
Gojo was dominating in almost all categories of statistics. He struck 14 aces, won 84 per cent of his first-service points and hit 41 winners from both wings but only converted one of his 10 break-point chances. Shelton showed incredible resilience under pressure, fending off two match points at 4-6 in the second-set tie-break and saving another at 5-6, 30/40 in the final set. In the decisive tie-break, he stepped up with a composed and clinical performance, securing three crucial minibreaks against the big-serving Gojo to seal a hard-fought victory.
Comeback complete @BenShelton fights off two match points as he beats Borna Gojo 4-6 7-6 7-6 on his Munich debut #BMWOpen pic.twitter.com/OVdPPRHSBr
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 14, 2025
“That was ridiculously difficult the way he served and the way he played, even when he got upset, he started slapping winners. It was tough to go against him today,” Shelton said afterwards.
“I got lucky in a couple of big moments and held my nerve when I was down a few match points.”
Shelton has gained his first match win since losing to eventual champion Jack Draper at the ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinals in Indian Wells last month.
“That’s the type of tough win that can propel your season,” Shelton stated. “Weird things happen on clay. It is not always straightforward. I am learning more and more about how to play and move. I am just happy with the progression. Being match points down and to come through is never easy. Obviously, I was a bit lucky, but I am happy the way I closed it out.”
Shelton has already had fun off the court in Munich. On Sunday evening, he went to the Allianz Arena to watch the football game between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. “It was my first football Bundesliga game. The atmosphere was crazy. Bayern was up 2-1 but it ended in a tie. I was happy to be there to feel the energy. The players were so skilled, and I was impressed with what I saw.”
Kecmanovic, Goffin advance
Earlier in the day, Miomir Kecmanovic secured his first win on clay this season, battling past US-American Marcos Giron 6-2, 6-7(2), 7-6(9) in the longest match of the day. The 25-year-old Serbian saved two match points in the tie-break of the final set to prevail after two hours and 54 minutes.
“It was tough, but I managed to stay in the match. I am just happy and believed that I was able to make it,” Kecmanovic said and added: “I love coming here. I had good results in the past and let’s see what’s coming up.”
The World No. 48, who reached the semi-finals of the BMW Open in 2022, will next take on either seventh-seeded Czech Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic or Italian Luciano Darderi.
On Court 1, Belgian veteran David Goffin had to go the distance edging past British lucky loser Billy Harris, 6-2, 6-7(2), 6-4 in two hours and 29 minutes. The 34-year-old now awaits the winner of the encounter between third-seeded Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime and Mariano Navone of Argentina.
Launch of “Future Aces”
Monday also marked the launch of a meaningful new initiative: the debut of “Future Aces” – a long-term program developed in partnership with BMW, MTTC Iphitos, and tournament organizer MMP. The goal of the project is to provide underprivileged children and teenagers in Munich with access to the sport of tennis and open up broader opportunities for their future.
For every ace served during the tournament, a coaching session at MTTC Iphitos will be donated to young people facing difficult circumstances. The initiative is further supported by additional opportunities such as information days and internships, both within the club and the broader environment of the BMW Open by Bitpanda.
With “Future Aces,” the tournament goes beyond the court, aiming to make a lasting social impact by connecting high-level tennis with community outreach and empowerment.
