Scouting Report: Zverev headlines Hamburg, Nadal returns in Bastad; action in Gstaad & Newport

A four-tournament week on the ATP Tour features stars Alexander Zverev, Rafael Nadal and Stefanos Tsitsipas in action across Europe. Defending champion Zverev leads the field at the ATP 500 Hamburg Open, while Nadal headlines the draw at the Nordea Open, an ATP 250 clay-court tournament in Bastad.

Tsitsipas also competes on clay, competing at the EFG Swiss Open Gstaad, an ATP 250. The final grass-court action of the year occurs at the Infosys Hall of Fame Open in Newport. Adrian Mannarino is the defending champion at the ATP 250.

ATPTour.com lists five things to watch at each event.

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FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN HAMBURG
1) Top seed Zverev: Zverev returns to Hamburg as the defending champion. The German, currently second in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, won a trophy on clay at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Rome earlier this year.

2) Can Rune continue to build?: Holger Rune will hope to build on his run to the fourth round at Wimbledon when he transitions to clay in Hamburg. The 21-year-old is 9-5 on clay in 2024, with his best result coming at Roland Garros (fourth round).

3) Can Argentine duo bounce back?: Sebastian Baez and Francisco Cerundolo will both hope to snap losing streaks in Hamburg. Baez has lost his past four matches after winning titles on clay in Rio de Janeiro and Santiago earlier this year. Cerundolo’s last victory came against Tommy Paul at Roland Garros in June. The 25-year-old reached the semi-finals in Hamburg two years ago.

4) #NextGenATP Fils & Italian Arnaldi in action: #NextGenATP Frenchman Arthur Fils leads the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah. The 20-year-old, who advanced to the last four at the ATP 500 last year, reached the fourth round at a major for the first time last week at Wimbledon. Matteo Arnaldi, 23, is set to make his debut in Hamburg. The former Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF competitor is 8-4 on clay this year.

5) Krajicek/Ram top seeds: Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram are the top seeds in Hamburg. The Americans are teaming for just the second time this season, having lost in the first round in Houston. They are set to team at the Olympics. Krajicek and Ram will face competition from Germans Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz, who are 23-13 on the season. The ongoing doubles trial will take place in Hamburg.

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN BASTAD
1) Nadal Returns: Nadal is set to compete for the first time since May at the Nordea Open after accepting a wild card into the ATP 250. The Spaniard is a former champion in Bastad, triumphing in his most recent appearance in 2005. The 38-year-old is 7-5 on the season, with his best result a fourth-round run in Madrid. Nadal faces Leo Borg in the first round.

2) Defending champ Rublev: Andrey Rublev returns to Bastad as the top seed and defending champion. The 26-year-old, who beat Casper Ruud in the final last year, is trying to re-find his best form. Rublev is 3-4 since winning his second ATP Masters 1000 title in Madrid in May.

3) Former winner Ruud: Casper Ruud has produced some of his best tennis in Bastad in the past. He won the title at the clay-court event in 2021 and lost in the final last year. The Norwegian’s best result this year came in Barcelona where he won his first ATP 500 crown.

4) Griekspoor & Norrie threats: Tallon Griekspoor and Cameron Norrie will both aim to upset the big stars in Bastad. The Dutchman Griekspoor, who is making his debut, is chasing his first title of the season. Briton Norrie arrives in Sweden off a run to the third round at Wimbledon. The 28-year-old reached a semi-final on clay in Rio de Janeiro earlier this year.

5) #NextGenATP Van Assche & Rocha compete: Frenchman Luca Van Assche and Portugal’s Henrique Rocha will be in action. Van Assche, 20, is fifth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah and is trying to qualify for the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF for the second time. The 20-year-old Rocha is set to compete at just his second tour-level event of the season after losing in the first round in Estoril.

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN GSTAAD
1) Top seed Tsitsipas: Stefanos Tsitsipas headlines the field in Gstaad, where he is set to debut. The Greek won his only title of the season on clay in Monte-Carlo.

2) Humbert seeking third title of season: Ugo Humbert began the year like a train, winning on hard courts in Marseille and Dubai. The 26-year-old Frenchman has not matched those levels recently but did advance to the fourth round at Wimbledon. Humbert makes his debut at the Swiss ATP 250.

3) Felix, Etcheverry, Struff among seeds: Felix Auger-Aliassime, Tomas Martin Etcheverry and Jan-Lennard Struff could cause problems on the clay in Gstaad. Earlier this year, Auger-Aliassime reached a final on the surface in Madrid, while Etcheverry made the title match in Lyon. Germany’s Struff clinched his first ATP Tour title on clay on home soil in Munich in April.

4) Wawrinka competing at home: Swiss star Stan Wawrinka is set to make his 12th appearance in Gstaad, where he lost in the title match in 2005. The 39-year-old will be trying to win consecutive tour-level matches for the first time this season.

5) Can Berrettini continue to build? Matteo Berrettini returned to Tour on grass last month in Stuttgart, where he reached the final. The Italian then lost in the second round at Wimbledon against World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who defeated Berrettini in four tight sets. Earlier this year Berrettini clinched the crown at the ATP 250 clay-court event in Marrakech.

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN NEWPORT
1) Defending champ Mannarino: Adrian Mannarino returns as the top seed to Newport, where he won the title in 2023. The Frenchman will be aiming to bounce back from a disappointing first-round exit at Wimbledon.

2) Eubanks leads American charge: American Christopher Eubanks has produced his best tennis on grass, winning his maiden tour-level title on the surface in Mallorca last year and reaching the Wimbledon quarter-finals (2023). The 28-year-old leads the American charge on home soil in Newport, where Marcos Giron, Brandon Nakashima and Mackenzie McDonald feature.

3) #NextGenATP Michelsen & Mensik in action: Third seed Alex Michelsen enjoyed the best moment of his developing career in Newport last year when he reached the final. The 19-year-old reached the quarters on grass in Mallorca last month but lost in the first round at Wimbledon. The 18-year-old Czech Mensik competed on grass at a tour-level event for the first time in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. He arrives in Newport having earned match wins on the surface in Mallorca (QF).

4) Opelka returns: Reilly Opelka will compete on Tour for the first time since 2022 in Newport. The 26-year-old plays Constant Lestienne in the first round.

5) Lammons/Withrow top seeds: Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow headline the doubles draw. The Americans are the defending champions.

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