The first serve at the BMW Open 2024 did not involve a ball: instead, the white cloth was pulled back under which the prize car of this year's edition of the top-class tennis tournament was waiting to be unveiled. Christian Ach, Head of BMW Germany, and Patrik Kühnen, Tournament Director and multiple Davis Cup winner, presented the all-electric BMW i5 M60. In addition to 88.125 euros in prize money, it was the main prize of the BMW Open 2024. At the opening tournament of this year's ATP series 28 top players vied for the trophy in the singles main draw - the new BMW i5 M60 should have been an additional incentive as it is the most modern, all-electric performance vehicle in the current BMW M model range.
The BMW i5 M60 will assume a leading role on the path to sustainable premium mobility in the upper mid-size segment.
Head of BMW Germany
THE BMW I5 M60: A FIRST-CLASS WINNER'S PRIZE.
The BMW Group has been the namesake and main sponsor of the ATP tournament BMW Open since 1982. Since then, the Bavarian vehicle manufacturer has continuously presented an exciting line-up - both in terms of players and winning vehicles. This season was no exception: "The BMW Group is delighted to hand over the first-ever all-electric 5 Series to the winner of the BMW Open 2024," explained Christian Ach, Head of BMW Germany.
ON LOCATION AT THE PRODUCTION FACILITIES.
Tournament director Patrik Kühnen visited the BMW plant in Dingolfing in March, where he was able to test drive the BMW i5 M60 and get an idea of the state-of-the-art production facilities. He also had the opportunity to take part in the "finish", the final quality control of the electric M model at the plant. "The modern production and the attention to detail" confirmed Kühnen in his conviction that the BMW i5 M60 is an extraordinary prize car for this year's BMW Open. Every year, 290,000 BMW 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 Series vehicles as well as the all-electric BMW iX and BMW M vehicles are produced at the Dingolfing plant.
LINE-UP OF TOP PLAYERS.
Just as the players could hope for a fascinating prize car, spectators at the BMW Open 2024 could look forward to a top-class tournament. The line-up was as diverse as it was exciting. Up-and-coming tennis talents such as 20-year-old German Max Hans Rehberg or US player Alex Michelsen were competing alongside a selection of international champions. The 2020 US Open winner Dominic Thiem from Austria, ATP ranking #107, was in the mix as well as the German 2021 BMW Open finalist Jan-Lennard Struff, ATP ranking #26, as was the Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime, ATP ranking #34. In addition, three players from the top 15 in the world were vying for the top prize: the German Olympic champion Alexander Zverev, ATP ranking #5, who had already won the BMW Open in 2017 and 2018; the USA's number one Taylor Fritz, ATP ranking #15th, and the defending champion and winner of the last two BMW Open tournaments, Denmark's Holger Rune, ranked at no. 12 in the ATP charts (rankings as of April 18, 2024).
STRUFF SECURES FIRST ATP TITLE.
Jan-Lennard Struff won his first title on the ATP Tour with a cracking overhead shot. In the fourth final of his career and at his 13th BMW Open, the 33-year-old defeated the American Taylor Fritz 7:5; 6:3 after 1:19 hours. For this, the Warstein native received prize money of 88,125 euros, the traditional champion's leather trousers and the all-electric winning car: the BMW i5 M60. On the final Sunday, BMW also announced that the title partnership that has existed since 1987 will be continued. Next year, the tournament will move up to the more demanding ATP 500 series. For Christian Ach, the move underscores a logical development: "In the almost four decades (of the title partnership of the traditional tennis tournament), BMW has actively supported the tournament and contributed to its success today." In fact, all nine days of the tournament were sold out, with more than 50,000 spectators attending the 37th BMW Open despite the changeable weather. With the upgrade to the 500 category, the BMW Open is likely to become even more interesting for the world's top players in the future.
