Alexander Zverev’s run at the BMW Open in Munich ended in the doubles first round despite a heartfelt tribute to his favorite football club. The German tennis star, who had just reached the quarterfinals in singles, partnered with longtime friend Marcelo Melo but fell to the second-seeded French duo of Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul in straight sets.
The match took place on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at the MTTC Iphitos complex in Munich, where Zverev had advanced to the singles quarterfinals earlier in the week. Playing alongside the Brazilian veteran Melo, Zverev lost 6-4, 6-3 to Doumbia and Reboul, who were ranked as the tournament’s second seeds in doubles.
What drew attention before the match was Zverev’s choice of attire during warm-ups. He wore the number 17 jersey of Michael Olise, the Bayern Munich winger who scored the late winner in Bayern’s 4-3 Champions League quarter-final victory over Real Madrid the previous evening. Zverev had attended that match at the Allianz Arena and later visited the Bayern dressing room to congratulate the team in person.
“It was super, also for the kids,” Zverev said of his stadium visit, referencing his daughter Mayla and nephew Mischa junior who accompanied him. “The players were super friendly, took photos and gave autographs. It was an experience you have to have. It was tremendous fun.”
The tennis star’s connection to Bayern Munich runs deep. As noted by reporters on site, Zverev is a regular at Bayern home games when he’s in Munich, and his gesture of wearing the Olise jersey was seen as a personal tribute to the club. However, tennis regulations prevented him from wearing the football kit during actual play, so he competed in his standard tennis attire underneath the jersey during warm-ups.
Zverev’s singles performance had been promising prior to the doubles match. He defeated Canadian qualifier Gabriel Diallo 6-1, 6-2 in the fourth round to set up a quarterfinal clash. That win came after a strong showing earlier in the tournament, positioning him as a contender for the title in Bavaria.
In doubles, the challenge proved greater. Doumbia and Reboul, a well-established French pairing, broke Zverev and Melo’s serve early in the first set and maintained pressure throughout. The French duo converted key break points in both sets, capitalizing on unforced errors from the German-Brazilian team to close out the match in just over an hour.
The loss means Zverev will now focus solely on his singles quarterfinal, where he aims to continue his strong clay-court form heading into the European summer swing. His participation in Munich is part of his preparation for the upcoming Masters 1000 events in Madrid and Rome, followed by his title defense at Roland Garros.
For Melo, the 42-year-old Brazilian, the Munich Open marked another stop on the ATP Tour as he continues his veteran doubles campaign. The pairing with Zverev, while not a regular team-up, highlighted their friendship that has developed over years on the tour.
As Zverev leaves Munich, his immediate focus shifts to the singles quarterfinal. A win there would guarantee him a top-10 finish in the Race to Turin standings and strengthen his seeding prospects for the French Open. The doubles exit, while disappointing, does not alter his primary objectives on the clay circuit this spring.
Fans can follow Zverev’s progress through the official ATP Tour website and the tournament’s live scoring platform for real-time updates on his singles quarterfinal and subsequent matches.
What are your thoughts on Zverev’s Bayern Munich tribute and his singles chances moving forward? Share your perspective in the comments below.
