Lightning over Hamburg: Zverev's ingenious emergency landing on the way to Paris!

Lightning over Hamburg: Zverev's ingenious emergency landing on the way to Paris!

On May 24, 2025, the German tennis professional Alexander Zverev experienced a shocking incident during his flight from Hamburg to Paris. The aircraft in which he was sitting was hit by a flash, which led to an immediate emergency landing in Hamburg. Fortunately, Zverev and his fellow travelers, including the tennis professionals Lehecka and Nakashima, were unharmed. Zverev himself described the situation as "the best story of Roland Garros so far", and saw the incident with humor, although it was an unpredictable event.

The flight started on time at 6:45 p.m., but after the lightning strike there was no way for Zverev to secure a connecting flight immediately. Because of these circumstances, he had to wait until the next morning to continue to fly. Ultimately, he took an early morning flight and arrived at his destination at 3:00 a.m.

an unexpected stop and its reaction

Despite the horror in the air, Zverev remained optimistic. In his explanations, he said that the sound of the lightning was only small and there was no wobbling feeling or larger disorders during the incident. This did not worry the 28-year-old player, so that he described the situation as "pretty funny". This underlines the unpredictability of air travel.

This unexpected turn came at a critical time, since Zverev was preparing for an important tournament on Bois de Boulogne. Roland Garros is an important Grand Slam in which the best-of-five format is played. Zverev is aware of the special requirements and the importance of this tournament, especially after he has recently lost his third Grand Slam final at the Australian Open.

preparations and challenges

Preparation for the sandplace season was not optimal for Zverev, since he was already in the round of 16 at his home tournament in Hamburg due to a stomach infection. Before the incident in the air, he stated that he felt weak during the first training session on the facility. Nevertheless, he is optimistic about the upcoming tournament and the opportunity to prove himself on the big stage.

Zverev will compete against US Teenager Learner Tien on Tuesday and emphasizes the importance of the first matches for his tournament course. This situation and the unexpected incident illustrate the challenges that even top athletes have to master during their career.

Further information about the incident and Zverevs trip to Paris can be on the pages of Motorcycle Sports and Ran