“How stupid can that be?”: Alexander Zverev signs up to play Hamburg Open weeks after openly berating scheduling
**Alexander Zverev’s Hamburg Open U-Turn Sparks Controversy After Scheduling Criticism**
Alexander Zverev, the World No. 2, has raised eyebrows by accepting a wildcard to play the 2025 Hamburg Open, an ATP 500 event starting July 14, just weeks after publicly slamming its scheduling. In a May 2025 interview during the Italian Open, Zverev called the decision to move Hamburg from its traditional July slot to May, days before Roland Garros, “stupid,” stating, “How stupid can that be? No serious Roland Garros contender would risk going deep here,” as reported by @Probahis on X. His remarks criticized the ATP’s scheduling, arguing it jeopardized players’ French Open preparations, especially with top names like Jannik Sinner, Holger Rune, and Lorenzo Musetti withdrawing, per @BenoitMaylin.
Despite his earlier stance, Zverev’s last-minute decision to compete in Hamburg, his hometown tournament, was confirmed on May 16, 2025, after intensive discussions with his team, per @ilyza1002. He explained, “I was in Monte Carlo relaxing when my team decided for me: We’re going to Hamburg now,” suggesting a spontaneous choice to recharge his game post-Rome, where he lost to Musetti in the quarterfinals. The move drew sharp criticism, with @AntZlatan_it on X calling it “the worst scheduling in tennis history,” warning Zverev risks early Roland Garros exits against players like Juan Pablo Varillas or Mariano Navone.
Fans and analysts are divided. Some, like @GameSetAndTalk, see Hamburg as a chance for Zverev, the 2023 champion, to gain momentum before defending his 2024 Roland Garros final, per @atptour. Others, including @Zverevfanclub, note the confusion, as ESPN initially reported he’d skip the event. Zverev’s history of controversial remarks, like his dig at Musetti’s “defensive” play, per TennisInfinity.com, and the Hamburg “defending champ” mislabeling, per Sportskeeda, fuels perceptions of inconsistency.
Zverev’s participation, motivated by home crowd support, per Motorcyclesports.net, aims to boost positivity after recent media storms. However, his scheduling flip-flop has sparked debate about his preparation strategy as he eyes a deep Roland Garros run.
