HAMBURG, July 20, 2019
The draw for the Hamburg European Open has been made, led by a trio of Top 10 players – Dominic Thiem, Alexander Zverev, and Fabio Fognini. No. 1 seed Thiem will face a tough task in the first round taking on Pablo Cuevas from Uruguay, who finished runner-up at the Rothenbaum tournament in 2016. The World No. 4 from Austria leads 4-2 in their head-to-head records.
Zverev, who was born in Hamburg, returns to his hometown tournament for the first time since 2016 and will open his title bid against Nicolas Jarry of Chile. The pair will meet for the third time this season. The 22-year-old German lost at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell in April but took revenge in the final of the Geneva Open one month later.
Fognini, who struggled with a leg injury at this week’s Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag and was forced to retire in his second round match against fellow Italian Stefano Travaglia, will start his Hamburg campaign against a qualifier.
“I try to train well and look forward to my first match. I have many good memories of Hamburg,” Fognini said.
The World No. 9 could face two-time winner Leonardo Mayer in the second round. The 32-year-old Argentine, who lifted the trophy in Hamburg in 2014 as well as in 2017, will face German #NextGenATP star Rudolf Molleker.
Another local young gun, Daniel Altmaier, who entered the main draw with a wild card, will also take on a former champion of the prestigious tournament in Northern Germany. The 20-year-old Kempen native will play 2016 winner Martin Klizan of Slovakia.
Defending champion Nikoloz Basilashvili is seeded fourth. The World No. 16, who celebrated his second triumph on the ATP Tour here last year, will play a qualifier in the first round.
Das Hauptfeld der #HamburgOpen ist ausgelost 🎾 @DTB_Tennis @ATP_Tour @HH_Active_City pic.twitter.com/aIJor1wYyi
— Hamburg European Open (@hamburgopen) July 20, 2019
Eight players in the field of the ATP 500 tournament have triumphed at clay-court events in 2019: Juan Ignacio Londero (Cordoba), Marco Cecchinato (Buenos Aires), Laslo Djere (Rio de Janeiro), Cristian Garin (Houston, Munich), Fognini (Monte-Carlo), Thiem (Barcelona), Benoit Paire (Marrakech, Lyon) and Zverev (Geneva).
Dodig/Pavic lead doubles line-up
The doubles field is led by Ivan Dodig and Mate Pavic. The Croats will meet the all-French combination of Jeremy Chardy and Richard Gasquet in the first round. Reigning Roland-Garros champions Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies are seeded second. The German duo will seek a second-round berth against Roman Jebavy from the Czech Republic and Dutchman Matwe Middelkoop.
