Am Rothenbaum
In the beautiful city of Hamburg, Germany, there is a special place that tennis fans from all over the world know and love. This place is called “Am Rothenbaum,” which is the home of the main tennis court for the German Open Tennis Championships. For more than 130 years, the biggest stars of tennis have walked onto its clay courts. It is a place where history, sport, and excitement come together.
Am Rothenbaum is not just a sports field. It is a landmark in the Harvestehude quarter of Hamburg. While everyone calls the site “Tennisstadion am Rothenbaum” (which means “Tennis Stadium at the Rothenbaum”), it is officially located in Harvestehude. This area is one of the nicest parts of Hamburg, known for its old trees, beautiful houses, and peaceful atmosphere. The stadium fits perfectly into this landscape, offering a quiet escape from the busy city life while still being in the middle of a major German city.
A Long and Proud History
The history of tennis at Am Rothenbaum is very long and proud. The International German Open has been played at the “Rothenbaum” since 1892. Think about that for a moment. That is over 130 years of tennis. This makes it Germany’s longest-running tennis tournament. While the world has changed dramatically—from the invention of cars and airplanes to the rise of the internet—the tradition of tennis at Rothenbaum has remained strong.
Because it has been around for so long, every great player in the history of the sport has played here. The stadium’s “Walk of Champions” honors the many legends who have lifted the trophy. From the early days of tennis to the modern era, the champions at Rothenbaum read like a “Who’s Who” of the sport. This long history gives the stadium a special feeling. When you sit in the stands, you know you are watching a match on the same ground where the greatest players of all time battled for victory.
The Modern Stadium
The current stadium at Am Rothenbaum was built in 1999. It was a major renovation that took place between 1997 and 1999. The architects who designed it were ASP Schweger Assoziierte, and the structural engineers were Werner Sobek Ingenieure GmbH & Co. KG. The result was a modern, world-class tennis venue.
For many years, the stadium could hold 13,200 spectators. This made it Germany’s largest tennis venue. However, in 2020, the stadium underwent a modernization project. This gave the venue a new look and changed the capacity to 10,000 guests. The modernization was supported by the Alexander Otto Sports Foundation, the city of Hamburg, the German Tennis Federation (DTB), and the Club an der Alster. A large supporter of Hamburg’s sports infrastructure, Alexander Otto, covered about 80% of the costs. This renovation ensured that the stadium remains a top facility for players and a comfortable place for fans.
Today, Am Rothenbaum is one of only two tournaments on German soil to be part of the ATP Tour 500. The other is the Halle Open. The ATP Tour 500 is a high level of professional tennis, just below the biggest Grand Slams and the Masters 1000 events. This means that the tournament in Hamburg attracts the best players in the world. In fact, it is one of the twenty largest tennis tournaments in the world, which is a remarkable achievement for a single stadium in one city.
More Than Just Tennis: A Multi-Purpose Venue
While tennis is the heart of Am Rothenbaum, this stadium has proven to be very flexible over the years. The venue has been used for many different kinds of events, showing that it is more than just a tennis court.
One of the most surprising transformations happened in 2006. For a few days, the Rothenbaum Stadium was turned into a swimming arena! Imagine a swimming pool built inside a tennis stadium. It was a unique event that brought a different kind of sport to the famous clay courts.
The stadium has also been a place for culture and spirituality. In 2004, the great Italian opera singer Luciano Pavarotti sang at Am Rothenbaum. He performed in front of nearly 9,500 enthusiastic listeners. It is a magical image: the world’s most famous tenor singing opera under the open sky of a tennis stadium. A few years later, in 2007, the stadium hosted a very different kind of event. Around 10,000 people came together to see an appearance by the Dalai Lama. The stadium became a place of peace and learning.
In 2018 and 2019, Am Rothenbaum showed its love for other sports. In 2018, the venue hosted a Beach Volleyball event of the FIVB World Tour for the first time. Then, in 2019, the Beach Volleyball World Championship was held on the Rothenbaum grounds. The clay court was replaced by sand, and tennis stars were replaced by beach volleyball champions. In 2019, the regular tennis tournament saw Nikoloz Basilashvili win in very hot conditions—almost 35 degrees Celsius. But the heat did not stop the beach volleyball players a short time later.
Location and How to Get There
One of the best things about Am Rothenbaum is its wonderful location. It is situated in Harvestehude at Hallerstraße 89, between Rothenbaumchaussee and Mittelweg. The area is quiet and green, making a visit to the tennis a relaxing experience.
Getting to the stadium is very easy. The nearest rapid transit station is Hallerstraße. This station is directly next to the tennis park. You can take the U1 line of Hamburg’s excellent public transit system. When you step out of the station, you are almost at the stadium gates. This makes it very convenient for locals and tourists alike.
Also, the famous Außenalster is just 600 meters away. The Außenalster is a large, beautiful lake in the center of Hamburg. People love to walk, jog, or sail on the Alster. If you visit the tennis tournament, you can easily combine it with a relaxing walk by the lake. You could watch exciting tennis in the afternoon and then enjoy a peaceful sunset on the water in the evening. It is a perfect combination of sport and nature.
The Comeback of Women’s Tennis
For many years, the tournament at Rothenbaum was only for men. The women’s tournament in Hamburg last took place in 2002, when Belgian star Kim Clijsters won the title. But that changed recently. In a wonderful development for the sport, 2021 was a special year. For the first time since 2002, there was a women’s tournament in the Hanseatic city (the historic name for Hamburg). The women played one week before the men’s tournament. This brought double the tennis action to the Rothenbaum and gave female athletes a chance to shine on the famous clay. Champions like Arantxa Rus (2023), Bernarda Pera (2022), and Elena-Gabriela Ruse (2021) have now added their names to the history of the venue.
Why Am Rothenbaum is Evergreen
What makes an article about Am Rothenbaum “evergreen”? It is because the stadium represents something that does not fade away. It represents tradition, passion, and the love of sport. Every year, the German Open returns to Hamburg. Every year, new champions are crowned. And every year, fans fill the stands to cheer. The names of the winners change—from Roger Federer, who won three times (2004, 2005, 2007), to Rafael Nadal, who won in 2008 and 2015, to modern stars like Alexander Zverev, who won in 2023. But the spirit of the place remains the same.
The stadium has seen the longest ball exchange in its history (61 hits between Gael Monfils and Gilles Simon in 2011). It has seen the use of about 6.6 kilometers of string per tournament week used by the stringing service. It has seen the German Tennis Federation (DTB), the largest tennis association in the world, celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2002. The stories are endless.
Am Rothenbaum is more than a building. It is a living museum of tennis. It is a place where the past and present meet. Whether you are a young child watching your first tennis match or an older fan remembering the greats of the 1990s, a visit to the Tennis Stadium at Rothenbaum is a special experience. It stands proud in the Harvestehude quarter, a green oasis dedicated to the sport of tennis. And if history is any guide, it will continue to host champions for another 130 years.