Hamburg Open: Zverev Blames Illness for Early Exit

World No. 3 Alexander Zverev suffered a surprise loss to Alexandre Muller in the Hamburg Open due to illness. Despite being the top seed, Zverev's health issues hindered his performance, leading to a 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(5) defeat.

World number three Alexander Zverev's French Open preparations hit a roadblock as he suffered an early exit at the Hamburg Open. Zverev, who entered the tournament as the top seed and hometown hero, lost to Frenchman Alexandre Muller in the last 16. Muller, ranked 40th in the world, won the match 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(5), marking a significant upset.

This was a disappointing result for Zverev, who had hopes of gaining momentum ahead of the French Open. Instead, Muller moved into the quarterfinals, achieving the biggest win of his career by beating a top-five ranked opponent for the first time. Zverev attributed his loss to illness, which likely impacted his performance on the court.

Match Highlights:

• Final Score: Muller won 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(5)
• Duration: 2 hours and 39 minutes
• Key Moment: Muller sealed the win with a volley winner at 5-5 in the tiebreaker
• Zverev's Struggle: 48 unforced errors, mostly from his backhand wing

Zverev's early exit means he'll need to regroup and refocus ahead of the French Open. Muller, on the other hand, will be looking to build on his momentum as he progresses to the quarterfinals.

Alexander Zverev's Hamburg Open campaign got off to a rocky start as he struggled to find his rhythm in the opening set. Muller dominated the first set, winning it 6-3 in just 34 minutes, with Zverev managing to take only two games.

Zverev fought back strongly in the second set, breaking Muller twice to take the set 6-4. However, the momentum swung back in Muller's favor in the deciding set. Both players broke each other once, setting up a tense tiebreaker. Zverev initially held the advantage, but Muller staged a remarkable comeback, winning the final three points to seal the match 7-6(5).

Alexander Zverev's participation in the Hamburg Open was a last-minute decision, with the German hoping to use the clay court event as a warm-up for the French Open. However, his campaign was cut short as he lost to Alexandre Muller in the last 16. Despite his disappointing performance, Zverev attributed his struggles to illness.

“It was OK considering I threw up 37 times and had a fever of 39.4 degrees (Celsius, 102.9 Fahrenheit) all night,” Zverev said, explaining the circumstances surrounding his match. “I was two points away from winning the match. There's a lot to be said in my favour,” he added, highlighting the narrow margin between victory and defeat despite his health issues.

Alexander Zverev's 2024 season started on an inconsistent note, but he found his footing with a win at the Bavarian Open in April, claiming his third title on Munich's clay courts. However, his momentum was halted at the Rome Masters, where he was eliminated in the quarterfinals in straight sets last Wednesday.

Zverev has a strong record in Hamburg, having won the tournament in 2023 and reaching the final last year, where he narrowly lost to Arthur Fils in a thrilling third-set tiebreak. With world No. 1 Jannik Sinner's late withdrawal, Zverev was considered the favorite to win the title, making his early exit all the more disappointing.

Other notable exits at the Hamburg Open included American second seed Frances Tiafoe, who was beaten by Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, and fourth-seeded Argentine Francisco Cerundolo, who lost to Czech player Jiri Lehecka. These results added to the tournament's unpredictable nature, setting the stage for unexpected matchups and outcomes.

Wow.

Alexandre Muller gets another BIG win in 2025, defeats world #3 and top seed Alexander Zverev 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(5) to reach the QFs in Hamburg.

From 3-5 down in the 3rd set tiebreak... pic.twitter.com/kMsvAHksth

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) May 21, 2025

Zverev believed his opponent, Muller, had taken advantage of his poor physical condition due to illness. “When I had to walk it was difficult,” Zverev said. ”He then realised at some point I wasn't feeling well and made the points last as long as possible,” he added, suggesting that Muller's tactics had exploited his weakened state.

The loss was particularly frustrating for Zverev, who is still searching for his first Grand Slam title. He has come close, finishing as runner-up in the Australian and French Opens, as well as the US Open in 2020. Despite this setback, Zverev remains hopeful that he can break through and claim his maiden Grand Slam championship in the future.