HAMBURG/STARNBERG, March 19, 2026
There is exciting news for German tennis fans ahead of the 2026 edition of the Bitpanda Hamburg Open (May 16–23), as Jan-Lennard Struff and Justin Engel have officially confirmed their participation. The player field for the prestigious ATP 500 event at the Rothenbaum continues to take shape, with world No. 4 Alexander Zverev having already committed early to his home tournament. Top-10 player Felix Auger-Aliassime is also set to return to Hamburg, with more world-class names expected to be announced soon.
A new highlight will debut this year with the introduction of the “German Tennis Day” on Monday, May 18. The initiative is designed to celebrate the strength and diversity of German tennis, encouraging fans to wear national colors and create a vibrant black-red-gold atmosphere throughout the venue. Zverev is expected to begin his campaign on that day, alongside other German players including Struff and Engel.
Experience meets the next generation
Struff returns to Hamburg as a fan favorite, making his 16th appearance at the iconic clay-court tournament. The 35-year-old has been a consistent presence on the ATP Tour for over 15 years and reached a career milestone in 2024 by winning his first ATP Tour title in Munich.
“I always enjoy coming back to Hamburg—it’s even more special to be playing here for the 16th time,” said Struff. “The atmosphere on Centre Court is unique every year, and I have a strong personal connection to the city.”
Joining him is one of Germany’s most promising young talents, Justin Engel. The 18-year-old made headlines last year by defeating Struff in the opening round and establishing himself as one of the tournament’s rising stars.
“I’m excited to play again at the biggest tournament in Germany,” Engel said. “It will be a very special week for me. Playing in front of a home crowd always gives me an extra boost. Hamburg is also special because I won my first Challenger title here last year.”
Engel had already attracted international attention in 2024 when he became the youngest player since Carlos Alcaraz to win a match on the ATP Tour.
A stage for German tennis
Tournament director Enric Molina Mur emphasized the importance of a strong German contingent: “We are delighted to once again have a strong German contingent. Struff continues to perform at the highest level after many years, while Engel represents the next generation. Seeing top players from different generations compete here will be very special for fans.”
On the new initiative, he added: “With the German Tennis Day, we want to create a dedicated platform for German players and fans. It will be a fantastic opportunity to experience top-level tennis—including Alexander Zverev and emerging talents like Justin Engel—in a particularly vibrant atmosphere.”
As anticipation builds, more top players are expected to join the line-up in the coming weeks. The Bitpanda Hamburg Open remains one of the most important ATP 500 events on the calendar and will be organized for the third consecutive year by Tennium in 2026.
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