The BOSS Open in Stuttgart opens its doors this Monday without three of its headline acts. Alexander Zverev, freshly crowned at Roland-Garros, Flavio Cobolli and Jakub Mensik have all withdrawn following their grueling campaigns on the Parisian clay.
Zverev claimed his maiden Grand Slam title on Sunday in a five-set battle against Cobolli (6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1) and has understandably chosen to rest before the grass season. The German will not defend home soil in Stuttgart this week.
Cobolli, the surprise finalist in Paris after Arnaldi's semifinal walkover, emerged from an intense fortnight that launched him into the ATP top 10. The young Italian needs recovery time before considering his next grass-court move. Mensik, a quarterfinalist at Roland-Garros, rounds out the triple withdrawal.
These absences reshape the Stuttgart field entirely. Taylor Fritz, the defending champion after beating Zverev in last year's final, becomes the clear favorite. The American returns to a surface that suits his powerful serve-and-volley game perfectly.
Ben Shelton poses the other major threat with his devastating serve and aggressive court craft. Alexander Bublik, Tommy Paul and Frances Tiafoe round out an attractive field despite the withdrawals. Corentin Moutet, with his silky touch and unpredictable game, could also spring a surprise on a surface that rewards variety. The BOSS Open 2026 begins with qualifying on Monday at the Tennis Club Weissenhof.
