MUNICH – The reception that greeted Alexander Zverev in Munich on Saturday was nothing short of rapturous. Hundreds of fans crammed into the seats, walkways and even the grassy hills surrounding the practice court to catch a first glimpse of the top seed at the BMW Open by Bitpanda.
After practice was done, Zverev looked relaxed, signing countless tennis balls and posing for selfies.
“Really nice,” he smiled when asked about his first impressions of the venue this week. The historic event in Munich is undergoing a transformation following its upgrade to ATP 500 status. A new temporary Center Court has been erected for the next few years, as a new permanent version with retractable roof is completed.
“I think that the Center Court is now very, very beautiful,” Zverev said on Saturday. “I think the court with the retractable roof will make a huge difference for the tournament and for the future of the tournament. But it’s great to see that Munich is constantly developing, the facilities and the tournament itself.”
