Terra Wortmann Open Draw: Zverev Leads, Shelton Faces Kyrgios

HALLE, Germany — The stage is set for a historic week at the OWL Arena. The official draw for the 33rd Terra Wortmann Open was unveiled on Saturday, promising a high-octane week of grass-court tennis headlined by the newly crowned French Open champion, Alexander Zverev.

In a ceremony featuring German teen sensation Max Schönhaus and veteran commentator Matthias Stach, the seeds were placed and the brackets finalized, delivering several “must-watch” clashes right from the opening round.

The Zverev Quest: A Triple Crown Ambition

All eyes are on world No. 3 Alexander Zverev, who returns to his home soil in Germany with the momentum of a lifetime following his victory in Paris. Tournament Director Ralf Weber made his expectations clear:

“After his historic victory in Paris, let’s see what he can achieve here. Maybe he’ll even pull off the triple—winning the French Open, the Terra Wortmann Open, and Wimbledon.”

Zverev begins his campaign against Czech challenger Vít Kopřiva. Should he advance, the draw sets up a potential blockbuster second-round meeting with Brazilian rising star João Fonseca, provided Fonseca can navigate a tricky opener against Germany’s own Yannick Hanfmann.

First-Round Fireworks: Shelton vs. Kyrgios

While the top seeds look to settle in, the first round offers an immediate collision of two of the game’s most explosive entertainers. In a draw masterstroke, Matthias Stach pulled Ben Shelton (ATP 5) against the returning Nick Kyrgios.

Kyrgios, the 2022 Wimbledon finalist, is making his long-awaited return to Halle after a four-year absence and a five-month hiatus from the tour. With both players known for their massive serves and flair, this match is widely considered the highlight of the opening days.

Emerging Stars and Title Contenders

The draw also highlighted the “next generation” of talent. Local favorite Max Schönhaus, only 18 years old, made tournament history by drawing himself against American prospect Learner Tien.

“He’s about my age, but we’ve never played each other before. We’ll see how it goes,” said a smiling Schönhaus. The winner of that encounter faces a daunting prospect: a second-round showdown with the tournament’s second seed, Felix Auger-Aliassime.

Other high-stakes first-round encounters include:

• Hubert Hurkacz vs. Andrey Rublev: A battle between a former Halle champion (Hurkacz, 2022) and a former finalist (Rublev, 2023).
• Flavio Cobolli vs. Frances Tiafoe: A test of grit between the sixth-seeded Italian French Open finalist and the two-time US Open semifinalist.

Tournament Schedule and Tickets

The main draw officially kicks off this Monday at the OWL Arena. While the opening day is nearly sold out, tournament officials confirmed that a limited number of tickets remain at the box office.

Fans looking to secure seats for the remainder of the week—which promises to decide who will take home the title and gain crucial confidence ahead of Wimbledon—can purchase tickets via the official Terra Wortmann Open website.

Click HERE to view the men’s singles draw.