Zverev defies rain and hail – and recommends “16 beers” to fans

The start was successful for Alexander Zverev in the home game in Munich. But it became a game of patience, completed and interrupted for several hours.

Munich – A well-known weather adage says: “April does what it wants.” The organizers of the BMW Open in Munich will feel this again in 2024 – and also stars next to the tennis player Alexander Zverev.

People have been used to worrying about the weather at the Munich ATP tournament for years. Rain and even snow are no stranger to spectators at the MTTC Iphitos station. Climate change in Germany, including the onset of winter and temperatures above zero degrees Celsius, delayed the start of the tournament in 2024. Rain problems disrupted the schedule in the first few days. Tournament favorite Zverev was also beaten in his first outing on Wednesday (April 17).

Weather chaos at the BMW Open: Zverev is not deterred by rain and hail

After a bye in the first round, the current German tennis player had to play in her round of 16 match – under the watchful eye of her partner Sophia Thomalla in worse than zero-degree conditions. But shortly before the end of the first set, heavy hail caused the first disruption for the German when the result was 5:4.

The second attempt to continue the game after a two-hour break was short-lived after 28 minutes when it rained heavily again. Only after another one-hour rain break was Zverev able to see his match through to the end – winning 7:6 and 6:2. In the quarter-finals they will face either Cristian Garin (Chile) or Alex Michelsen (USA), who will play the round of 16 – weather permitting – on Thursday (April 18).

Waiting time due to bad weather in Munich: Zverev “drank 16 beers”.

However, Zverev’s condition was not damaged. “That was a special match,” he said in an interview on court after his victory: “But Munich and the weather are always special – we also had snow, as he did As a tennis fan the waiting time would be: “I would drink 16 beers Probably Zverev he was already looking forward to FC Bayern’s Champions League home game.” The tennis star watched the 1-0 win over Arsenal and the semi-final tie at the Allianz Arena.

Meanwhile, the weather forecast for the rest of the week suggests that conditions will not get any better. Snow fell on Thursday – and it is expected to remain cold and wet on Friday (April 19) and the final weekend on Saturday and Sunday (April 20/21). After all: the organizers have taken precautions. All tennis fans can warm up with mulled wine – for five euros per cup. (kh)