Zverev out of Stuttgart Open due to thigh injury: "The risk is too great for the other tournaments"

Alexander Zverev will not play the Stuttgart Open between May 12-18 with his name the main absence from the initial field in Saturday's draw.

Zverev lost out in the semi-finals as his campaign came to an end in a poor display against Casper Ruud with some pointing out he look injured. That is the case with a thigh injury seeing him out of Stuttgart.

But it is also precaution with Zverev scheduled to play Halle Open in the week following and he believes it is too big of a risk with the tournament also carrying more ranking points to play over the next week.

He went on to say that he hopes to be back next year and he will now kick off his grass campaign on May 19 instead of next week.

Nick Kyrgios, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe still headline a stacked field in Stuttgart but it will miss the main home hope.

"Yes I lost in Paris yesterday and unfortunately pulled my thigh. That's why I won't be in Stuttgart this year, I was really looking forward to it," said Zverev.

"I was really looking forward to finally playing tennis on grass again so yes I can't play this year because I have to play the day after on Tuesday. That doesn't give me enough time and the risk is too great for the other tournaments."