HALLE/WESTPHALIA, June 13, 2024

The new World No. 1 and the 2024 Roland-Garros runner-up are ready for a thrilling title battle at the 31st TERRA WORTMANN OPEN, which will be held from June 15 to 23. Jannik Sinner, the first Italian to reach the top of the ATP Rankings, and World No. 4 Alexander Zverev both arrived in Halle, Westphalia on Thursday to compete in next week’s ATP 500 grass-court event.

“It’s great that our top-seeded stars have already arrived for preparation. I think they are highly motivated and certainly strong favorites for the trophy,” said tournament director Ralf Weber.

Sinner, who took the pole position from Novak Djokovic on Monday, appeared motivated and eager for the high-quality field, which includes five current top 10 players. “Of course, I want to compete for the title. But the competition is very, very strong,” said Sinner, who lost in the semi-finals of the French Open to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz but claimed his first major title earlier in the 2024 season at the Australian Open.

Jannik Sinner becomes the first Italian to reach world no. 1 😱👏 We look forward to seeing you soon on the grass! 🌱 pic.twitter.com/raAKDJbDhD

— TERRA WORTMANN OPEN (@ATPHalle) June 10, 2024

Weber, who presented the 22-year-old South Tyrolean with a cake as a welcome gift, praised Sinner’s rise to “Numero Uno” as a “reward for the discipline, hard work, and character of a top athlete.”

Zverev, 27, also received high praise from the tournament chief: “Sascha played an outstanding tournament in Paris and represented German tennis excellently. His entire performance at the French Open was exemplary in every aspect. I am sure that a Grand Slam victory for him is only a matter of time.”

At the TERRA WORTMANN OPEN, Zverev aims to be win the title after reaching the final in Halle in 2016 as well as in 2017.