The German Open Hamburg, established in 1892, is an annual tennis tournament for male professional players held in Hamburg, Germany and part of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour. Originally a Grand Prix Tennis Tour event between 1978 and 1989 it was part of the Grand Prix Championship Series. The tournament is played on clay courts at the tennis center Am Rothenbaum. In the past, it was contested in May, as a precursor to the French Open. Currently, it is held in July instead.
Beginning in 2009, this tournament was downgraded from an ATP Masters Series event to an ATP World Tour 500 event. According to tournament officials, this seriously hinders its ability to attract top-ranking players, who are more likely to participate in tournaments that earn them more points. Tournament officials unsuccessfully sued to stop the downgrade. As the tournament stands now with its new position in the ATP calendar, it is an attractive event for many European players who dislike playing on faster surfaces. Its new position will prevent top-ranked European players from playing there since it is after Wimbledon and the focus moves towards preparing for the North American summer hardcourt surface before the start of the U.S. Open.
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