Alexander Zverev, the World No. 2, has been incorrectly labeled the “defending champion” by Hamburg Open organizers ahead of the 2025 tournament, sparking outrage among fans who see it as a slight against 2024 winner Arthur Fils. The error, highlighted by Sportskeeda and Tennis.com, stems from promotional materials and social media posts, including one from @hamburgopenatp, which wrongly implied Zverev won last year’s title. Fans on X, such as @eustace_on7, quickly called out the mistake, posting, “Defending champ?? I thought Fils won last year,” reflecting widespread frustration.
The controversy revisits the heated 2024 Hamburg Open semifinal between Zverev and Fils, where Zverev’s anger over a disputed call—Fils’ serve was ruled out after a net-cord incident—boiled over. Fils won the title, defeating Zverev and ending his campaign, yet the 2025 promotional gaffe has reignited tensions. X users, including @TennisConnected, labeled the error “disrespectful” to Fils, with some, like @Facebook’s Tennis Updates, demanding “Justice for Arthur Fils.” The backlash intensified as fans recalled Zverev’s history of contentious moments, including his complaints about ball quality at the 2025 Italian Open and a perceived “rude” interview response in Rome, per Jang.com.pk.
Zverev, who accepted an A+ wildcard for Hamburg 2025 amid withdrawals from stars like Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti, per Tennis365.com, has not publicly addressed the error. The Hamburg Open’s mistake, while likely unintentional, has fueled perceptions of favoritism toward the German star, especially given his high profile and past controversies, such as his 2024 domestic abuse allegations, which remain a point of contention. Posts on X, like @tennis_fanatic, speculated the error was a “marketing ploy” to boost Zverev’s draw, though no evidence supports this.
The uproar underscores fans’ sensitivity to accuracy and fairness in tennis narratives. For Fils, the 2024 Hamburg title was a career milestone, and fans feel the mislabeling diminishes his achievement. As the 2025 Hamburg Open approaches, organizers face pressure to correct the record and acknowledge Fils’ victory to quell the growing fan discontent
