Last year’s Nitto ATP Finals champion Alexander Zverev has pulled out of this year’s ABN Amro World Tennis Championships in Rotterdam from 11-17 November 2019 due to an ankle injury.
Alexander Zverev made his debut in Rotterdam in 2015 and has taken part in this tournament five times. He achieved his best result in 2016 when he qualified for the quarter finals before losing to Gael Monfils. Last year the 21-year-old German player lost to Andreas Seppi in the round of 16.
Zverev beat Peter Nagy and Gabor Borsos helping Germany beat Hungary in the Davis Cup Qualifier in Frankfurt last weekend.
Zverev will be replaced by Damir Dzumhur, who made his first appearance in Rotterdam last year. The three-time ATP Tour champion beat Marius Copil before losing to Andrey Rublev.
“Alexander Zverev had problems with his ankle in the run-up to the Australian Open and this injury has returned during the Davis Cup. Therefore, he cannot come to Ahoy”, said Tournament Director Richard Krajicek in a statement.
The organizers have announced that 2014 Rotterdam champion Tomas Berdych will return to play at this tournament for the 12th time in his career. In 2014 the Czech player beat Marin Cilic in the final. One year later he finished runner-up to Stan Wawrinka in his second consecutive final at this tournament.
“Tomas Berdych has been out for some time due to back problems, but on his return he proved his class immediately. He reached the final in Doha and the fourth round at the Australian Open. It’s nice to see an old winner back to Rotterdam”,said Richard Krajicek.
This year’s Australian Open doubles champions Pierre Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut will return to Rotterdam as the defending champions. The Frenchmen have completed the men’s doubles Career Grand Slam after winning the US Open in 2015, Wimbledon in 2016, Roland Garros in 2018 and the Australian Open in 2019. They join a field, which features 2018 finalists Mate Pavic and Olivier Marach, Karen Khachanov and Danil Medvedev.
