Two-Time Champion Zverev, Ruud Headline Munich Field

Alexander Zverev will bid for a third title in Munich and a first title of the season this week.

The German hasn’t found the form that took him to an ATP Finals last November, but instead has been mired in off court troubles.

He’ll hope to shake that in Munich where he claimed back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018. Zverev., who just turned 25 a few days ago, will await the winner between two youngsters in Jiri Lehecka and Holger Rune. He could face Dan Evans or Maxime Cressy in the quarters, with Reilly Opelka looming in the semifinals. Opelka is projected to meet former champion Cristian Garin in his quarter.

Seeded second is Casper Ruud who has won six of seven career titles on clay, but has recently made the move on hard courts reaching the finals in Miami a month ago. Ruud is slated to collide with Botic Van de Zandschulp in the quarters, then either defending champion Nikolaz Basilashvili or the rising Miomir Kecmanovic.

Zverev is just the top seed at an event for the second time since a Munich quarterfinal loss last year to Ilya Ivashka — he lost in the final of Montpellier to Alexander Bublik.

Six of Zverev’s 19 titles have come on clay with 2021 Madrid the lone trophy in nearly three years.