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

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

On May 24, 2025, German tennis professional Alexander Zverev experienced a shocking incident during his flight from Hamburg to Paris. The plane he was in was struck by lightning, resulting in an immediate emergency landing in Hamburg. Fortunately, Zverev and his fellow travelers, including tennis professionals Lehecka and Nakashima, remained uninjured. Zverev himself described the situation as “the best story from Roland Garros so far,” and viewed the incident with humor even though it was an unforeseeable event.

The flight took off promptly at 6:45 p.m., but after the lightning strike there was no way for Zverev to immediately secure a connecting flight. Due to these circumstances he had to wait until the next morning to fly on. He ended up taking an early morning flight and arrived at his destination at 3:00 am.

An unexpected stop and his reaction

Despite the terror in the air, Zverev remained optimistic. In his statements, he said that the sound of the flash was only small and there was no shaking sensation or major disturbance during the incident. This didn't bother the 28-year-old player, so he described the situation as "pretty funny". This highlights the unpredictability of air travel.

This unexpected turn of events came at a critical time as Zverev was preparing for an important tournament in the Bois de Boulogne. Roland Garros is a major Grand Slam played in a best-of-five format. Zverev is aware of the special demands and importance of this tournament, especially after recently losing his third Grand Slam final at the Australian Open.

Preparations and challenges

Preparation for the clay court season did not go well for Zverev, as he was eliminated in the round of 16 at his home tournament in Hamburg due to a stomach infection. Before the mid-air incident, he said he felt weak during his first training session at the facility. Nevertheless, he is optimistic about the upcoming tournament and the opportunity to prove himself on the big stage.

Zverev will play against US teenager Learner Tien on Tuesday and emphasizes the importance of the first matches for his tournament progress. This situation and the unexpected incident illustrate the challenges that even top athletes have to overcome during their careers.

Further information about the incident and Zverev's trip to Paris can be found on the website of Motorcycle Sports and Ran be read.