The German Open will also be held at the Rothenbaum in Hamburg in the coming years. This was announced by organizer Peter Michael Reichel on Monday.
The new organizer of the ATP tournament at Rothenbaum, Peter-Michael Reichel, makes a “clear commitment” to Hamburg as a location. “Together with our partners, we are planning to keep the tournament in Hamburg for the long term. The historical solidarity with the city and the DTB, which enables the revitalization of the stadium, is an important step in this direction,” says the 66 year old Oberoesterreicher, who with his Reichel Business Group has been awarded the license for the ATP-500 event from 2019 (20 to 28 July) for an initial five years by the German Tennis Federation (DTB). The European representative of the women’s tennis organisation WTA is currently also exploring the options of bringing a women’s event back to the Elbe.
The tournament director of the “Hamburg Open”, as the event is to be called in future, will be his daughter Sandra Reichel, the managing director of the Reichel Business Group (RBG). The 47-year-old already has many years of experience as tournament director. She currently heads the WTA tournaments in Linz, Austria (since 2000) and Nuremberg (since 2013); in the past she was also responsible for other women’s events (Bad Gastein, Vienna, Barcelona).
In addition, Sandra Reichel was tournament director of the men’s tournament in Kitzbu?hel in 2005 and 2006, which at the time was still part of the ATP 500 series, head of the organisation of four Davis Cup home games for the Austrian men’s team (1998, 1999, 2007, 2017) and responsible for ATP Senior Tour events (1997 and 1998).
“I am very pleased that the organisers of the Hamburg Open are determined to lead the great tradition of top international tennis at the Rothenbaum into a successful future. Such a world-class tournament belongs right in the heart of Active City. Anyone who has ever experienced the atmosphere in Hamburg knows that the Hamburg fans are a sensation and, with their support, are creating a fantastic stage for the sport. Together with Alexander Otto and the DTB, the modernization of the stadium facility will create very good conditions for the future development of the tournament”.
“It was always our wish to hold the tournament in Hamburg. The Hanseatic city is the home of the German Tennis Federation and we are happy that the oldest German ATP tournament, with more than 100 years of tradition, can continue to take place in Hamburg. For a long-term future of the tournament a modernization of the facility is essential. We are very grateful to both the City of Hamburg and the entrepreneur and patron Alexander Otto for their great commitment”.
“We would like to make a clear commitment to Hamburg as a business location! What particularly excites me is that we were received so positively from day one and we have the feeling that the whole of Hamburg wants the tournament to develop well! Together with our partners, we have the great wish that the tournament will remain in Hamburg in the long term. The historical solidarity with the city and the DTB, which enables the revitalisation of the stadium, is an important step in this direction! Our thanks go to both Alexander Otto and Senator Andy Grote, who led the negotiations to a successful conclusion with great commitment”.
“We are delighted to be able to lead Germany’s most traditional tennis tournament from 2019 into the future in a great city like Hamburg. We are looking forward to this great challenge in Hamburg, which we are also tackling with humility before the dimension and tradition of the tournament. The tournament is the star – and we see ourselves together with the city, the DTB and the club on the Alster as a team!