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Ben Shelton Claims Munich Crown as BMW Open by Bitpanda Delivers on All Fronts

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(by Florian Heer)

Shelton Claims Munich Crown as BMW Open by Bitpanda Delivers on All Fronts

American lifts biggest clay title of his career while Schnaitter/Wallner delight home fans and tournament organizers celebrate strong attendance and growth.

Ben Shelton captured the title of the 2026 BMW Open by Bitpanda, defeating fourth-seeded Italian Flavio Cobolli 6-2, 7-5 in Sunday’s singles final.

In front of packed stands on Center Court at the MTTC Iphitos, Shelton set the tone early, racing to a 4-0 lead in the opening set. Cobolli improved as the match progressed, but the world No. 6 remained rock solid on serve, saving all six break points he faced and converting three of his nine opportunities to seal victory in one hour and 30 minutes.

“I came out at a really high level,” said Shelton, who earned his fifth career title and third at ATP 500 level following Tokyo in 2023 and Dallas earlier this year.

“I have done that before against him, but the toughest thing is maintaining it, as he raises his level. I was able to do that in the second set, hanging in there when he played some great tennis, and I came through to win it in straight sets.

“I am happy with my performance this week. I got better and better as the week went on, and I am pleased with the work my team put in here.”

Shelton received a prize cheque of €478,935, as well as a brand-new BMW iX3 and traditional Bavarian Lederhosen. He also collected 500 ATP Ranking points.

“The car is great. It might be difficult to get it back to Florida, where I live,” Shelton said with a smile.

The Atlanta native has now claimed the biggest clay-court title by an American man since Andre Agassi won the ATP Masters 1000 in Rome in 2002 – the year Shelton was born.

“It’s huge. I have big ambitions on clay – a surface I want to keep improving on each year. It has become one of my favourite surfaces to play on.

“It’s a short season and some of the Americans choose not to play every event. But we had two guys in the quarterfinals of the French Open last year. Success on clay is coming back. I am looking forward to being part of this progression of U.S. men’s tennis on clay. On the women’s side, they have a lockdown as they won the French last year. We as the men have some more to do but we are heading into the right direction. This is just one step in a long swing and let’s see what happens.”

And how will he celebrate? “We’ll go to a restaurant we visited a couple of times this week and enjoy the moment before flying to Madrid,” Shelton concluded.

Local heroes shine in doubles

Earlier in the day, Jakob Schnaitter and Mark Wallner completed a dream run by winning the doubles title. The German qualifiers defeated the all-French duo Théo Arribagé and Albano Olivetti 6-4, 6-7(4), 12-10 in one hour and 44 minutes.

Both Bavarians played college tennis in the United States before turning professional. After six ATP Challenger Tour team titles, Schnaitter and Wallner secured their maiden ATP Tour crown, splitting €157,320 and earning 500 ranking points—projected to push them into the Top 40 for the first time.

“We started in qualifying and saw that as an advantage, as it gave us two extra matches in these conditions,” explained Wallner. “We stayed positive all week and tried to bring the energy from our family and friends onto the court.”

“It was a complicated match today, and we’re very happy to come off as winners. Tonight I’m heading to the Allianz Arena to support Bayern Munich and hopefully see them seal the title. After that, Jakob and I will celebrate at a restaurant.”

“It’s been a tough week with a lot of hard matches, so I’m pretty exhausted,” added Schnaitter. “I’ve been in touch with many people from my time in the U.S., including my former coaches. They’ve been checking in regularly.”

Strong crowds underline tournament success

The closing press conference of the BMW Open by Bitpanda painted a highly positive picture of this year’s edition, highlighting both sporting quality and continued growth off the court.

Tournament director Patrik Kühnen emphasized the strength of the player field, which delivered “dramatic, exciting and high-quality matches” throughout the week. Alongside established stars, several newcomers made their Munich debut, including Stefanos Tsitsipas and João Fonseca. Kühnen also pointed to rising talents such as Alexander Blockx, whom he expects to make an impact in the coming months. A key objective- engaging fans with world-class tennis – was clearly achieved, while the successful integration of the Allianz Para Trophy was praised as an important step toward greater inclusion.

From an organizational perspective, Christian Okon, managing director of the MMP Event, reported an official attendance of 70,000 spectators, with nearly all sessions sold out. The expansion of Center Court capacity and the upgrade of Court 1 into a fully-fledged second show court – with its own host, DJ, and vibrant atmosphere – added significant value for fans. Looking ahead, plans are underway for a Challenger tournament in Cologne in summer 2027, with the winner set to receive a wild card for the BMW Open by Bitpanda.

Fabian Tross, president of the license holder MTTC Iphitos, highlighted the successful transition to ATP 500 status, calling it a bold but ultimately correct decision that has elevated the tournament to a new level. “The strong engagement from club members – 300 to 400 attending daily – underlined local support,” said Tross. He also revealed long term infrastructure plans, with a new stadium scheduled for completion in 2028, further strengthening Munich’s position on the ATP Tour.

Ben Shelton, Alexander Zverev Power Into Munich Semifinals

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(by Florian Heer)

Top two seeds stay on course as Flavio Cobolli sets up clash with home favourite.

The top two seeds and last year’s finalists, Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton, continued their strong runs at the BMW Open by Bitpanda, both advancing to the semi-finals in Munich.

On a sunlit Friday at the MTTC Iphitos, Shelton came through a highly anticipated quarterfinal clash against João Fonseca of Brazil, battling to a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory in front of a packed Center Court crowd.

The No. 2 seed of the ATP 500 event struck seven aces and won 84 per cent of his first-service points to prevail after one hour and 49 minutes.

“It was a much warmer day today with shorter rallies,” said Shelton, who enjoyed his first meeting with the 19-year-old Fonseca.

“He is an electric player, one of the rising stars on the tour. It’s a big match for him and there is a lot of excitement around him. He has many fans around the world, and I was looking forward to it, as it’s the type of atmosphere I like to play in. I’d love playing against him in Brazil one day. That’d be really cool.”

Molcan continues Munich run

The 23-year-old American advanced to the semi-finals of an ATP Tour event for the 14th time and will face Slovakian qualifier Alex Molcan on Saturday.

In a battle of left-handers, Molcan defeated Denis Shapovaolov of Canada 6-4, 6-4. The world No. 166 won 57 per cent of the total points played to succeed in 78 minutes.

“At the beginning of the week, I wasn’t even sure if I was getting into the tournament. I took a risk, I came here and made into the main draw,” said Molcan, who became the lowest-ranked Munich semi-finalist since world No. 186 Gerald Melzer in 2015.

“I am playing well. It feels unreal. The last two years were tough. I was struggling a lot. I had to undergo two surgeries, and it was a pretty dark tennis time for me, but I still believed that I could get back to some good level. Last year at this time I was playing Futures, now I am into the semis of an ATP 500. I don’t even know what to say. I am just proud of myself and my team,” the former top 40 player said.

Zverev overcomes Cerundolo

Earlier, top seed Zverev delighted his home crowd with a 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 win over fifth favourite Francisco Cerundolo.

The 27-year-old Argentine overcame a slow start and a double break down to clinch the opening set in just under an hour of play, but Zverev got back on track immediately, taking the match to a decider only 20 minutes later. The world No. 3 from Germany was the more solid player during the longer rallies in the final set and secured victory in two hours and 15 minutes.

“I was 4-1 up in the first set but then he started playing and returning unbelievably,” Zverev said. “My first-serve percentage was very high, and I returned close to the baseline, so there was nothing I could do. I was happy with my level, even in the first set, and I am definitely happy to earn my first win over Francisco on clay.”

Zverev has now reached his fifth tour-level semi-final this season.

“The confidence is there, and maybe I’m staying a bit calmer in certain situations,” Zverev added. “This was probably my best clay-court match of the season so far. Things are moving in the right direction, and I’m very satisfied with myself.”

Cobolli eases past Kopriva

In his fifth Munich semi-final, Zverev will face Flavio Cobolli, who beat Vit Kopriva of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-2. The fourth-seeded Italian dominated the encounter from the outset, breaking his opponent’s serve four times to advance in one hour and 26 minutes.

“It wasn’t easy at all today. We fought for every point. It is always a pleasure to play against him, as he is also a nice guy,” said Cobolli after his first win over Kopriva in the pair’s third meeting, their first on the ATP Tour.

“I played a good match and was positive on court today. I also remained focused in the second set, which can be a problem for me sometimes. The sun came out today and I like to play in these conditions. Now I have to think about the semi-finals, which will be another big match.”

Alexander Zverev at the BMW Open in Munich courtesy of the BMW Open by Bitpanda

Alexander Zverev Cruises Into BMW Open By Bitpanda Quarterfinals

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(by Florian Heer)

The to seed shines in straight sets win over Gabriel Diallo.

The sun finally broke through in Munich, providing ideal conditions for the final second-round matches on Thursday at the BMW Open by Bitpanda. The improved weather also suited top seed Alexander Zverev, who delivered a composed straight-sets victory over Canada’s Gabriel Diallo to book his place in the quarterfinals of the ATP 500 event.

Zverev, who played on a packed Center Court in front of several Bayern Munich players as well as his entire family, dominated the encounter from the outset. The 28-year-old German won 83 per cent of his first-service points, saved the only break point he faced and capitalized on five of his eight break-point chances to advance in one hour and 13 minutes.

“It was much more straightforward than in the first match,” said Zverev. “I think he had some issues with his back and wasn’t serving fully in the second set anymore. Very unfortunate, but of course I am happy with the win and getting an easier match today.”

The three-time BMW Open by Bitpanda champion was not only pleased with his own performance, but also with his favourite football club Bayern Munich, who beat Real Madrid in the Champions League quarterfinals at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday evening.

“It was an amazing win yesterday; I was there watching. I took the kids down to the locker room afterwards and they were so nice to them. It was a great experience,” Zverev said.

Cerundolo in cruise mode

Up next for Zverev will be fifth seed Francisco Cerundolo. The 27-year-old Argentine cruised past two-time Munich finalist Botic van de Zandschulp from the Netherlands 6-3, 6-0 in just 64 minutes.

“I wasn’t in a hurry, but it’s always nice to win fast to save energy for tomorrow when I have to play again,” Cerundolo said with a smile after his tenth win on clay this season. “I played well from the baseline. I probably didn’t serve well in the first set, but it got better in the second. I am trying to improve every day.”

The world No. 19 has now reached back-to-back quarterfinals in Munich and feels comfortable in the conditions.

“I like the conditions here,” he said. “The clay is similar to the one in Argentina. It feels like home. There is a bit of altitude, but I am comfortable on this surface. My tennis is good and I hope I can keep going.”

Zverev leads their head-to-head record 4-3, having won the last four encounters — all on hard courts.

“I have never beaten him on clay, which is his favourite surface, but I am definitely looking forward to the challenge,” Zverev said ahead of his eighth quarterfinal appearance in Munich. “I am very happy to be at this stage, facing a tough opponent. That’s what it’s going to be tomorrow.”

Molcan masters Altmaier

In the bottom half of the draw, qualifier Alex Molcan continued his impressive run at the BMW Open by Bitpanda with his fourth consecutive win this week. The 28-year-old Slovak edged home favourite Daniel Altmaier 6-4, 7-6(10).

Molcan withstood six aces and broke Altmaier’s serve once to prevail in one hour and 43 minutes.

“It means everything. I cannot be happier or prouder of myself that I have reached the quarterfinals here,” Molcan said.

The world No. 166, who reached a career-high ranking of No. 38 in May 2022, endured a difficult period marked by wrist and knee injuries that both required surgery two years ago. Since then, the left-hander has mainly competed on the ATP Challenger Tour and ITF World Tennis Tour, winning five titles across those circuits last season.

“It’s been a long time since I played at this level. I don’t want to say that I am back, but it’s great to feel the emotions and the crowd again. Competing against the best players and even winning matches motivates me a lot,” Molcan said.

“We both served well and I only broke him once in the first set. It was not easy to return. I had to fight mentally in the tie-break because it was so close. I saved two set points and, in the end, I am just happy.”

Molcan will next face Denis Shapovalov of Canada, who beat Fabian Marozsan from Hungary 7-6(4), 6-2 in one hour and 25 minutes to reach his first quarterfinal on clay since the 2022 Rome Masters.

Allianz Para Trophy kicks off

Meanwhile, the Allianz Para Trophy has also kicked off in Munich – now upgraded to a 500-level tournament – featuring competition in both the Open and Quad divisions.

“We are very proud to be a partner and to promote not only the sport, but also equality and to provide the athletes with a bigger stage,” said Manuel Duhnke, Head of Sponsoring at Allianz Germany.

The initiative is clearly resonating. Wheelchair tennis continues to grow rapidly worldwide, yet Munich stands out on the international stage. “Compared to other tournaments, everything here is very professional – just like at the ATP event,” said world No. 1 in the Quad Division, Niels Vink. The Dutchman, who lost both legs and several bones in his hands due to illness, has already achieved a remarkable career Golden Slam at a young age, winning all four majors and Paralympic gold.

There were also positive words from Gustavo Fernández, world No. 4 in the Open Division: “Of course we are here to win the tournament, but above all we want to put on a great show for the fans.”

Alexander Zverev at the BMW Open by Bitpanda

Fonseca Shines In Munich Debut As Zverev Survives BMW Open Test

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Release (by Florian Heer)

Fonseca Shines on Debut as Zverev Survives Munich Test
Brazilian teenager impresses in cold conditions, while defending champion battles through and Molcan stuns Bublik at the BMW Open by Bitpanda.
João Fonseca enjoyed a successful debut at the BMW Open by Bitpanda as he claimed a first-round victory on a chilly Tuesday in Munich. With temperatures failing to rise above 10 degrees Celsius (50 °F) at the MTTC Iphitos, the conditions were far from ideal for South Americans, yet Fonseca set the tone early in the day by defeating Alejandro Tabilo in the opening match.
In the pair’s third tour meeting, Fonseca earned his first victory over the Chilean. Supported by many Brazilian fans on Center Court, the 19-year-old from Rio de Janeiro capitalized on three of his seven break-point chances to secure a 7-6(1), 6-3 victory in one hour and 33 minutes.
“I think that I haven’t played in that cold before,” Fonseca said with a smile during his post-match on-court interview. “But it’s great to see so many Brazilian flags here. I am very thankful to be here. I hope they will all be back for the second round.”
Up next for Fonseca will be seventh-seeded Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech.

Zverev battles past Kecmanovic
Meanwhile, Alexander Zverev started his title defence with a hard-fought 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(2) victory over Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia, who had beaten the German earlier in the season in Acapulco. In front of his home crowd, Zverev was a set and a break up but had to fight hard as Kecmanovic improved the longer the match lasted. However, a solid tie-break in the final set helped the top seed close out the match with his 12th ace.
“I was serving poorly the entire match and gave him a lot of looks on my second serve,” Zverev said. “At some point he was playing like a wall, wasn’t missing. The temperatures today didn’t help to play an aggressive style of tennis. It was tough to hit a winner but, in the end, I won and that’s the most important thing.”
Zverev will next take on Gabriel Diallo of Canada.
“He is a massive server,” the three-time Munich champion said of his upcoming opponent. “We are at altitude, which helps the servers, but in these temperatures I don’t know. He had a great first round, which he won quite comfortably. I am expecting a tough match.”
Elsewhere, fourth-seeded Italian Flavio Cobolli defeated German qualifier Diego Dedura, who earned his first tour-level main draw victory last year in Munich. The Italian won 6-4, 7-5 in one hour and 26 minutes.
“It was a very good experience, even though it was a tough draw having to face the world No. 16 right away. But that’s the level here — this is an ATP 500 tournament, not kindergarten. Overall, I’m satisfied with my performance, and now I’m looking ahead to the coming weeks,” said Dedura, who will next compete in the qualifying of the ATP Masters in Madrid.
In the second round of the BMW Open by Bitpanda, Cobolli will face Belgian Zizou Bergs, who was a 6-1, 6-4 winner over German lucky loser Marko Topo.

Molcan masters Bublik
The upset of the day was delivered by world No. 166 Alex Molcan. The 28-year-old Slovakian qualifier knocked out No. 3 seed Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan 6-4, 6-2. Molcan converted four of his nine break-point chances and won 59 per cent of the total points played to advance in one hour and five minutes.
“I am happy to be back at these kinds of tournaments. I always play better at this level than at Challenger events,” said the former top-40 player, who had to deal with injuries and underwent two surgeries in recent years.
“I lost my first set in the opening round of qualifying 6-0 when I was struggling with the conditions here, but then I just found myself, my game, and I improved match by match. Today I was focused during the whole match. I didn’t want to do anything extraordinary on the court. It was a good performance. I am healthy enough to play and just glad to be here. I just try to enjoy the game, and it works.”
Molcan will next play Germany’s Daniel Altmaier, who cruised past Croatian veteran Marin Cilic 6-2, 6-3 in 69 minutes.

Players enjoy their special night
Glitz, glamour and, of course, the stars of the BMW Open by Bitpanda — Monday evening’s Players Night at the Golden Racket Club by Käfer was a resounding success.
Spotted on the red carpet were top players of the tournament, including defending champion Alexander Zverev, American Ben Shelton, Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik and Italy’s Flavio Cobolli. Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas also made sure to attend the Players Night during his Munich debut. With great live music and plenty of good vibes, the celebrations continued late into the night.

Ben Shelton Survives Tough Test In BMW Open In Munich

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(by Florian Heer)

Ben Shelton picked up right where he left off in Munich, returning to the BMW Open by Bitpanda with confidence and momentum. After last year’s dramatic run to the biggest clay-court final of his career – highlighted by saving three match points in his opening match – the American began his 2026 campaign on Monday in hard-fought fashion, battling past compatriot Emilio Nava in three sets to launch his title bid as the No. 2 seed.

In a match between two close friends, Shelton could rely on his serve in difficult moments, firing 14 aces throughout the encounter. In the end, the world No. 6 won six points more than Nava to secure a 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-3 victory in two hours and six minutes.

“It’s tough. Not just a compatriot, but probably my best friend out on Tour, or one of a few,” Shelton said. “His trajectory has been steep lately, so I’m happy to see the way he has been climbing. I know he wasn’t feeling 100 per cent today, so I feel bad about that. I hope he gets back to 100 per cent quickly, because he’s playing great on the clay.”

Nava, who entered the main draw as a lucky loser after falling to Slovakian Alex Molcan in the final round of qualifying, and Shelton both often practice together in Florida but met for the first time in a professional match.

“He’s got a massive serve, similar to my first-round matchup last year, and it made things really difficult. He returned well down the stretch in the second set, broke me when it mattered, and he was clutch. So, to get through that, I’m really happy. Starting my run here in Munich, it’s a special place for me, and I’m just excited to keep going.”

Up next for the 23-year-old Atlanta native will be Belgian wild card entry Alexander Blockx, who defeated Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann 7-6(2), 6-2 in one hour and 28 minutes.

In other action, fifth seed Francisco Cerundolo eased past Indian lucky loser Sumit Nagal 6-2, 6-2 in one hour and 20 minutes. The 19th-ranked Argentine will play two-time Munich finalist Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands in the second round.

Arthur Rinderknech also opened his campaign in Bavaria with a comfortable win. The seventh-seeded Frenchman beat Alex Michelsen from the United States 6-3, 6-3 in one hour and 41 minutes, while Gabriel Diallo of Canada defeated Ukrainian qualifier Vitaliy Sachko 6-1, 6-2 in 76 minutes.

Earlier in the day, João Fonseca spoke to the media ahead of his debut appearance in Munich, sharing his excitement about competing at the BMW Open by Bitpanda for the first time.

“I am really happy to be here in Munich for the first time,” the Brazilian said. “Although it’s a little bit cold, I am feeling really great. I practiced today and yesterday, and I also feel good at the altitude here.”

Fonseca, who will take on Alejandro Tabilo of Chile in the first round, highlighted the importance of the conditions as part of his preparation for the upcoming clay-court swing. “I always wanted to come here. It is a great tournament and it’s at altitude, which is good preparation for next week’s Masters in Madrid.”

Looking ahead, the 19-year-old acknowledged the challenges of facing elite competition on the ATP Tour. “It’s always tough to play against the top-ranked players. I need to find solutions when I am not playing at my best to still win the match,” he explained. “I have been achieving good results. I am trying to learn balance and to be more consistent with the results. I am still learning and still need to understand more of the mental part of the game.”

Off the court, Fonseca also revealed his interest in football and his desire to experience the sporting culture in Munich when Bayern Munich hosts Real Madrid in the quarterfinal of the Champions League. “I have never met Vinicius Jr. I hope I can visit the game, and I will cheer for the Brazilians,” he added with a smile.

Alexander Zverev is back in Munich, where the German star is set to make his 12th consecutive appearance at the MTTC Iphitos. The three-time champion, who lifted the trophy in 2017, 2018 and again on his 28th birthday last year, is tied with Philipp Kohlschreiber for the most titles at the tournament in the Open Era.

Reflecting on his history at the event, Zverev looked back on his early days in Munich. “Winning tournaments is obviously great. I probably can’t remember every match I’ve played here, but I do remember my first one. I received my first wildcard here in 2014 and only won three games against Jürgen Melzer. I still remember that match well because I was in a big learning phase at the time and very nervous on court.”

Now one of the leading players on the ATP Tour, Zverev arrives in strong form. “I’m happy to be here. I have played a lot of tennis recently, which is very positive and means that I’ve been playing well,” the world No. 3 said.

In the opening round, Zverev will face Miomir Kecmanović, who defeated him earlier this season in Acapulco. The German is eager for a different outcome this time. “On that day, I didn’t play well, and I mentioned at the beginning of the year that matches like that would happen. After that, I found my rhythm again, and I’m looking forward to facing him here in Munich and doing better.”

MUNICH, GERMANY – APRIL 13: Ben Shelton of USA in action against Emilio Nava of USA during their Men’s Singles match on day three of the BMW Open at MTTC IPHITOS on April 13, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images for BMW)

Top Players Rest Up for Back to Back Masters, Leaves Room for Others to Shine

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The only member of the Top 10 in action this week is Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who is playing the BMW Open in Munich. There are three European clay court tournaments in the week leading up to Madrid and Rome, all ATP 250 events that are often overlooked by the top players. This is a good decision for everyone involved, except maybe the tournaments and sponsors, who depend on the big names to bring in revenue. For top players, the shot at winning a Masters like Madrid or Rome, or the a Grand Slam like the French Open is far more important that gaining a few points at a smaller event. The clay season is a grueling stretch. Madrid, Rome, and the French Open all occur within a five week period, leaving little room for rest or recovery. On the flip side, smaller tournaments are a great chance for some of the lower ranked players to pick up much needed points, or a good chance for higher ranked players to get back their form.
Estoril Open
Located in the scenic seaside town of Cascais, Portugal, this tournament always manages to grab one or two big names to headline its draw. In ’08 and ’10, they even managed  to snag Roger Federer. This year the main attraction is the defending champion, Juan Martin del Potro. So far, del Potro is yet to play a clay event this season, so the decision to play Estoril could be considered a smart one. He won here last year, and considering the field only contains one other player in the Top 20, this is a great chance for him to get some much needed match play on the red dirt. Speaking of the No. 2 seed, Richard Gasquet could also use some match play. The Frenchman was forced to pull out of Monte Carlo after injuring his ankle playing soccer. It’s tough to see anyone taking the title away from del Potro this year, but look for two time champion Albert Montanes to trouble him. Gasquet will likely have to contend with Casablanca finalist, Albert Ramos.
BMW Open
It’s unclear why Tsonga felt he needed to sneak in another tournament the week before two important events, but he is the clear favorite to win this title. He made it to the quarters in Monte Carlo before losing to countryman Gilles Simon, but elected not to play last week, so perhaps he’s looking for a bit more clay practice before heading to Madrid. Tsonga has landed himself in a distinctly German quarter. In fact, the only other non-German in the quarter is Marcos Baghdatis. However, that bunch includes three wildcards and a qualifier, none of whom should trouble the Frenchman. There are some tough opponents in his half though, including last year’s champion, Nikolay Davydenko, Marin Cilic, and Mikhail Youzhny.
Serbia Open
They should really just go ahead and rename this the Djokovic Open based on the Djokovic family’s connection with the event; however, this year, it would be missing its namesake. Novak Djokovic, as well as fellow Serbs Janko Tipsarevic and Viktor Troicki, have all elected to skip the event this year. Don’t worry, the Serbia Open will not be completely without a Djokovic, as Marco Djokovic was awarded a wildcard. Unfortunately, he lost to Fillippo Volandri on Monday. Again, do not fear, you can get your Djokovic fill at the merchandise shop where you can still pick up shirts, hats, and pillows with Novak’s face on them, even though he’s not playing at the event… Anyway, the Serbia Open features the weakest draw of this week’s events. The No. 1 seed is Pablo Andujar, who recently won Casablanca and has actually been having quite a good year. Another title win here could do him some serious good. The only other really notable name in the draw is David Nalbandian, who has an excellent opportunity to pick up some more points. Look for those two to make the finals.
If none of these events interest you, I suggest you take a cue from the pros and rest up for the big events. For those of you in the US, there are a lot of early mornings coming in the next few weeks.

The Journeyman: Eric Butorac Snapshot

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Eric Butorac, the American doubles specialist currently ranked No. 45 in the world, has made a few visits to Bosse Sports, my club in Boston, where I have taught over the past few months.
When he came to Boston to see his girlfriend, I had the pleasure of giving him a few pointers on his ever-expanding doubles game. The nimble six-foot-three-inch southpaw from Rochester, Minnesota sparred with a few of our juniors; it was great for our club and area for a player of his caliber to come by.
We worked on his returns and volleys, which are parts of his game that Butorac feels he needs to work on to crack the top 20 in the doubles rankings. The NCAA Division III singles and doubles champion in 2003, Butorac grew up playing at his dad’s club in a town an hour and a half from Minneapolis. He partnered with Kevin Whipple to take that collegiate doubles title. He feels that the head coach of his team at Gustavus Adolphus, Steve Wilkinson, is the main reason for his success and why he has been able to make a living playing doubles on the tour. He has won three ATP Tour doubles titles, all with Britain’s Jamie Murray.
Butorac’s career high doubles ranking was No. 30 in February of this year. He recently enjoyed playing doubles with top singles player Andy Murray in Indian Wells. He felt his practices were more intense due to the amount of the fans watching them hit. However, it wasn’t always big stadiums and large crowds for him. He remembers early in his career when traveling included sleeping on park benches, the locker room, and even in his car, all for the chance to pick up ATP ranking points.
“I feel if a player is questioning his doubts on trying to make it on the tour, [he should] go to France and play their money tourneys. That’s how I got started,” said Eric.
He started his career without much sponsorship, also coaching on the side to supplement his traveling expenses.
“I never take this life on the tour for granted, it’s very surreal,” said Eric. He is looking forward to playing doubles with the Australian Ashley Fisher. They originally were set to start the year as a team, but Fisher got injured. They plan on starting their partnership at a challenger in Puerto Rico, then with tour stops in Houston and in Munich and then all the way through Wimbledon. You can follow them on their website, www.bootyandfish.com.
Have a great week and enjoy the tennis in Miami.
The Journeyman
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