The stars who lead the first two ATP grass-court tournaments of the year | ATP Tour

Scouting Report

The stars leading the first two ATP grass-court tournaments of the year

Everything you need to know about the events in Stuttgart and ‘s-Hertogenbosch

June 09, 2024

The ATP Tour’s grass circuit begins this week with events at the BOSS OPEN in Stuttgart and the Libema Open in ‘s-Hertogenbosch.

Alexander Zverev is the top favorite in his own country at the ATP 250 in Stuttgart, while Álex de Minaur leads the ATP 250 tournament in the Netherlands. ATPTour.com looks at 10 things to keep in mind ahead of this week’s tournaments.

FIVE THINGS TO FOLLOW IN STUTTGART
1) Top favorite Zverev: After his run to the final at Roland Garros, Zverev makes his return to the grass in front of his home fans in Germany. The 27-year-old, competing in the tournament for the first time since 2019, has a record of 34-10 on the season.

2) Shelton and Tiafoe, in action: Ben Shelton will make his ATP 250 debut, having gone 2-3 on grass last season. The 21-year-old American is the second seed and arrives after reaching the third round at Roland Garros. Frances Tiafoe has had a modest season by her standards, with a 12-12 record. The American lifted the trophy in Stuttgart last year and hopes his return to the event will help her regain her best form.

3) Local Favorites: There are five Germans in the draw, including top seed Zverev. Seventh seed Jan-Lennard Struff reached the title match last year in Stuttgart, where he had championship point. Struff starts against Italian Flavio Cobolli. Yannick Hanfmann faces his compatriot Henri Squire, who has received a wild card, and the winner could play former number one Andy Murray, who has won seven grass-court titles and reached the final in Stuttgart in 2022. Dominik Koepfer faces Zhang Zhizhen.

4) Threatening seeds: Third seed Alexander Bublik and sixth seed Jack Draper have both had impressive results on grass in the past. Bublik won a grass court title in Halle last season and then reached the fourth round at Wimbledon. British left-hander Draper missed the grass tour last year due to injury, but advanced to the semi-finals in Eastbourne in 2022. Fifth seed Lorenzo Musetti, who pushed Novak Djokovic to five sets in Paris last week, opens against a player from the previous phase.

5) The Germans Krawietz/Puetz, main favorites in doubles: Germans Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz are the main favorites in the doubles draw. They will face second seeds Neal Skupski and Michael Venus and third seeds Lloyd Glasspool and Jean-Julien Rojer. Ariel Behar and Adam Pavlasek are the fourth favorites.

FIVE THINGS TO SEE IN S’HERTOGENBOSCH
1) De Miñuar leads the group: The Australian arrives at the ATP 250 in the Netherlands with confidence after reaching his second quarterfinal at Roland Garros. The 25-year-old, currently seventh in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, is a two-time quarter-finalist in ‘s-Hertogenbosch.

2) Los ex campeones locales Van Rijthoven y Greek Spoor: Dutchman Tim van Rijthoven enjoyed the biggest moment of his career in ‘s-Hertogenbosch in 2022, when he defeated Daniil Medvedev in the championship match to win his first ATP Tour trophy. The 27-year-old has been injured so far this season, but hopes to have a good start at the ATP 250, where he has received a wild card.

Sixth seed Tallon Griekspoor took the crown on home soil last year, beating Jordan Thompson in three sets in the final. This week he will start against Miomir Kecmanovic.

3) Paul and Humbert compete: Second seed Tommy Paul reached the grass final at Eastbourne last year but has struggled to find his best at ‘s-Hertogenbosch, falling in the first round in both of his previous appearances. The American, who has a record of 21-9 on the season, has been comfortable on the surface in the past, also reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2022. Ugo Humbert captured his first ATP 500 crown on grass in Halle in 2021. The third seed seeks his third ATP Tour title of the season this week.

4) #NextGenATP stars in action: Frenchman Arthur Fils and Czech Jakub Mensik compete in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. Fils, 19, will be seeking his first tour-level victory on the surface, while Mensik has never played an ATP Tour match on grass. Fils will start against compatriot Arthur Cazaux, while 18-year-old Mensik will face a qualifier. Fils is first in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah (Mensik is second).

5) Koolhof/Mektic lead the doubles draw: Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic are the top seeds in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. Koolhof is a two-time champion in the event, winning in 2022 and 2023 with Neal Skupski. Americans Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow are the second seeds. Singles stars Sebastian Korda and Paul team up.