ATP Challenger 50 Hamburg Ladies & Gents Cup
Tournament director Björn Kroll on the Hamburg Ladies & Gents Cup: crowds, format and the venue’s future
Kroll on Hamburg Cup: strong attendance, combined format praised, venue future uncertain – update
During semifinal Saturday of the Hamburg Ladies & Gents Cup, tournament director Björn Kroll reviewed the 2025 ATP Challenger 50/ITF W75 combined indoor event staged at the Hamburg Tennis Association facilities. He reflected on the event’s turnout, the experience of running a combined tournament and the uncertain future of the hall.
Mirra Andreeva’s elder sister Erika won Hamburg’s women’s event, upsetting top seed Kaitlin Quevedo in a straight-sets final.
BJÖRN KROLL: “The conclusion is very positive. It was extremely crowded—during the first few days, it was almost impossible to get through the entrance area, which is fantastic. That’s certainly also because many German players were competing—not only young talents but also experienced names like Mona Barthel and Cedrik-Marcel Stebe. It’s a great mix. Of course, players like Justin Engel, our defending champion Henri Squire, or local favorite Tessa Brockmann attract a lot of fans who are eager to see how our German players perform against international professionals at this level.”
Kroll said the combined format brought energy to the week and that organizers had acted on player feedback from previous years.
BJÖRN KROLL: “I think everyone involved finds it much cooler when it’s a combined event. The atmosphere is better and there’s simply more going on. I know that not all players feel the same way, but as long as there are no restrictions for them, it’s fine. After all, at the Grand Slams men and women also play together. We are, of course, a smaller indoor event, so we have to make a few compromises here and there. We took the players’ feedback from previous years seriously and improved several aspects. This year, we didn’t receive any negative feedback at all.”
On how the tournament compares within the Challenger landscape, Kroll noted the advantages and limits of using a federation-owned hall.
BJÖRN KROLL: “I’ve been to many Challenger events around the world, and there’s a huge range in quality. For instance, in Quimper or Rennes in France, they have light shows and the whole setup feels like an ATP 500. But I’ve also been to Challengers where you’d think our local club championships are better organized. It’s true that most events take place in rented arenas or clubs. Our advantage is that the tournament is held in our own federation hall—meaning we have full control. The downside is, of course, space. We had to rent additional courts to ensure a smooth schedule. I don’t think there are many combined events like ours left under such conditions.”
He also warned that rising ATP standards increase costs and complexity.
BJÖRN KROLL: “We have to distinguish between ATP and ITF events. The ATP’s requirements have increased tremendously in recent years. You receive a detailed manual that specifies everything—down to how many kilos of laundry a bag must hold. Since I also work at major ATP and WTA tournaments, I can compare, and the expectations are becoming very similar. You sometimes wonder why, and the explanation is that the ATP wants tournaments to become more professional. That makes sense, but it also means higher costs and more organization. Many tournament directors are struggling to keep up.”
BJÖRN KROLL: “With the ITF, it’s not as extreme; the requirements have increased, but at a reasonable pace. The ATP’s expectations, however, are very high, and that’s making it harder for many events to survive. Additionally, there’s a growing focus on hosting more tournaments in Asia and Saudi Arabia. It’ll be interesting to see how that develops.”
On the venue’s prospects, Kroll did not rule out change.
BJÖRN KROLL: “Most likely not at this venue. A lot is changing here. The hall is very old, even under monument protection, and quite run-down. The Hamburg Tennis Association is currently discussing what needs to be done during this winter season. Our goal is to move the tournament outdoors in the summer as a combined event. There are different options, but we’d like to keep two or three tournaments in Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein.”
ATP ATP 500 Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell
Rafael Jodar’s breakout: 19-year-old storms into Barcelona semifinals
Jodar, 19, beat Cam Norrie 6-3, 6-2 to reach Barcelona semis; his backhand and poise stood out. now.
Rafael Jodar, a 19-year-old from Madrid, announced himself as a genuine challenger on clay with a composed, powerful win that sent him into the Barcelona semifinals. The son and grandson who share his name has moved rapidly through the pro ranks this spring.
Jodar beat former Top 10 player Cam Norrie 6-3, 6-2 in 69 minutes, a result that echoed an identical scoreline the two produced in Acapulco earlier this year. It was his eighth consecutive victory and added to a resume that already includes the 2024 US Open boys’ title and an ATP trophy in Marrakesh two weeks ago. He is ranked 51st and is poised to move higher on Monday.
Standing 6’3″, Jodar mixes a flat bomb of a serve with a high kick second option and a forehand that blends pace and topspin. One commentator compared that forehand’s look to Arthur Fils. Yet it is Jodar’s two-handed backhand that drew the clearest notice. When he leans into it the stroke arrives with depth and bullet-like speed that repeatedly troubled Norrie.
A pivotal sequence came at 2-2 in the second set. Jodar reached break point twice and was repelled both times, and on the third occasion Norrie pulled off an excellent drop shot that seemed to shut the door. Jodar reversed direction mid-stride, put his racquet on the ball and redirected it into the open court for a winner and the break. “I think I handled the important moments and the pressure moments in the match very well,” Jodar said. “I think I played those points specifically very well.”
At 4-2 he again seized an opening with a powered backhand winner to close the match. If nerves were expected late, they never appeared.
With this run Jodar joins a rising class of young ATP hopefuls. On Saturday he will face Arthur Fils in what will be his stiffest test yet. “I’m super happy with my performance today,” Jodar said, “but I know I have to keep pushing.”
ATP ATP 500 BMW Open
Zverev and Shelton Settle into Munich Semifinals as Molcan and Cobolli Advance
Shelton and Zverev reached the Munich semifinals; Molcan and Cobolli joined them in the draw on clay
The top two seeds and last year’s finalists, Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton, both moved into the semifinals at the BMW Open by Bitpanda.
Shelton, the No. 2 seed, survived a stern test from João Fonseca, prevailing 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in one hour and 49 minutes on Center Court. The 23-year-old struck seven aces and won 84 per cent of his first-service points across the three sets. “It was a much warmer day today with shorter rallies,” Shelton said after his first meeting with the 19-year-old. “He is an electric player, one of the rising stars on the tour. It’s a big match for him and there is a lot of excitement around him. He has many fans around the world, and I was looking forward to it, as it’s the type of atmosphere I like to play in. I’d love playing against him in Brazil one day. That’d be really cool.” Shelton advanced to his 14th ATP Tour semi and will meet Slovakian qualifier Alex Molcan on Saturday.
Molcan, ranked No. 166, beat Denis Shapovaolov 6-4, 6-4 in 78 minutes, winning 57 per cent of the total points. He became the lowest-ranked Munich semi-finalist since world No. 186 Gerald Melzer in 2015. “At the beginning of the week, I wasn’t even sure if I was getting into the tournament. I took a risk, I came here and made into the main draw,” Molcan said. “I am playing well. It feels unreal. The last two years were tough. I was struggling a lot. I had to undergo two surgeries, and it was a pretty dark tennis time for me, but I still believed that I could get back to some good level. Last year at this time I was playing Futures, now I am into the semis of an ATP 500. I don’t even know what to say. I am just proud of myself and my team.”
Top seed Alexander Zverev rallied past Francisco Cerundolo 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 to reach his fifth tour-level semi of the season. The match lasted two hours and 15 minutes. “I was 4-1 up in the first set but then he started playing and returning unbelievably,” Zverev said. “My first-serve percentage was very high, and I returned close to the baseline, so there was nothing I could do. I was happy with my level, even in the first set, and I am definitely happy to earn my first win over Francisco on clay.” In the other quarterfinal, fourth seed Flavio Cobolli defeated Vit Kopriva 6-3, 6-2 in one hour and 26 minutes, breaking serve four times. “It wasn’t easy at all today. We fought for every point. It is always a pleasure to play against him, as he is also a nice guy,” Cobolli said. Zverev will face Cobolli in the other semi.
ATP Madrid Open Masters
Alcaraz and Djokovic Withdraw From Madrid Open as Both Address Injuries
Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic will miss the Mutua Madrid Open amid ongoing injury recoveries. .
Two of the sport’s biggest names will not compete at the Mutua Madrid Open after separate withdrawals citing injury. Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic announced they will miss the ATP Masters 1000 event in Madrid.
For Alcaraz it is the second consecutive year he will be absent from his home Masters 1000 tournament. The 22-year-old missed the 2025 edition because of a right leg injury and this week confirmed he will also sit out the Spanish event after withdrawing from the Barcelona Open on Wednesday, citing a right wrist injury.
Alcaraz made a strong start to the clay season by reaching the Monte Carlo final last week, where he lost to Jannik Sinner. That defeat cost him the ATP world No. 1 ranking. He then traveled to Barcelona and told press, “This week is one where I should take a break, but Barcelona is a very special place for me.” He withdrew from the event after winning his opening match. He is next scheduled to compete in Rome and at Roland Garros, where he is the defending champion at the French Open.
On social media Alcaraz wrote: “Some news is incredibly hard to share. Madrid is home, one of the most special places on the calendar to me, and that’s why it hurts so much not being able to play here for the second year in a row,” and added, “It especially hurts not to be in front of my people, in a tournament that means so much. Thanks for your love always and I hope to see you all soon.” He also posted: “Madrid, unfortunately I won’t be able to compete @MutuaMadridOpen this year. I’m continuing my recovery in order to be back soon. Hasta pronto!”
Earlier the same day three-time Madrid champion Novak Djokovic announced he would not play in Madrid, the third time in four years he has missed the event, also absent in 2023 and 2024. “I’m continuing my recovery in order to come back soon,” he wrote. “Hasta pronto! (See you soon!)”
© 2026 Mateo Villalba
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