HALLE, WESTPHALIA/STARNBERG, June 18, 2025
Germany’s top tennis star Alexander Zverev will step into singles action on Wednesday at the 32nd edition of the TERRA WORTMANN OPEN in Halle, Westphalia. In his opening match, the World No. 3 faces US-American Marcos Giron, currently ranked No. 43, and enters the encounter as the clear favorite.
Just days removed from his runner-up finish in Stuttgart, where he fell to Taylor Fritz in three sets, Zverev appeared fully recovered and in good spirits when addressing the media on Tuesday at the OWL ARENA. “Reaching the final in Stuttgart wasn’t a surprise to me, but it was a very, very good result,” said the 28-year-old.
Zverev used the days between tournaments to focus heavily on his physical conditioning. “I trained like crazy and did a lot of physical work—things that normally aren’t part of a tournament week,” he explained.
️ Alexander Zverev über sein “schlechtes Jahr” @AlexZverev | #TWO25 #ATPHalle pic.twitter.com/lhUB9nVeDT
— Tennis Channel DE (@TennisChannelDE) June 17, 2025
While staying healthy remains Zverev’s top priority in Halle, he also has one eye firmly on the ATP Rankings. Speaking with a mix of humor and resolve, he addressed critics who question his current standing: “People are always surprised when I win a tennis match,” he joked, before adding with a more serious tone, “I’m still ranked No. 3 in the world—even though people say I’ve had a bad year. Sure, the other two guys—Sinner and Alcaraz—are ahead of me. But then it’s me. Now, I have to try and catch up.”
Zverev draws strength from his close-knit support team and the comfortable environment at the tournament in Halle. “I really like it here,” he said. “The distances are short, the event has a family-like atmosphere, and I have a lot of people with me. It’s a relaxed setting that I enjoy. Now I just need to bring that feeling onto the court.”
Zverev holds a 3–0 career record against Giron and most recently beat him in straight sets on grass at Wimbledon last year. On paper, the German star is a strong favorite to continue that winning trend.
Also making his tournament debut on Wednesday is Belgium’s Zizou Bergs. After an impressive run to the final in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, where he fell to Gabriel Diallo in straight sets, Bergs arrives in Halle as a dark horse contender. However, he faces a tough opening test against World No. 22 Karen Khachanov, a powerful opponent with a strong record on grass.
