The ABN AMRO Open, also known as the Rotterdam Open, is just around the corner! After last year’s thrilling showdown where Jannik Sinner claimed the title in some nail-biting matches, this year kicks off with a twist—no defending champion in sight! That’s right, the World No. 1 has decided to take a breather after his impressive win at the Australian Open. What’s in store for the players this year?

Last year, the winner of the Rotterdam Open snagged €399,215 (around $430,260), which was a solid 2.9% increase from 2023. The runner-up didn’t do too shabby either, taking home €214,795 (about $231,499), also reflecting that same 2.9% bump from the previous year. As we gear up for this year’s tournament, it’s exciting to see yet another rise in the prize money! The stakes are higher than ever, and the champion will not only walk away with the title and 500 points but also a hefty paycheck that promises to make the competition even more fierce.

Kicking off on February 3 and running through to the thrilling men’s singles final on February 9, this year’s tournament promises to be a spectacle, with a whopping €2,401,550 (around $2,503,375) in prize money—up 12.49% from last year! The champion will take home €449,160 (approximately $468,061), marking a 12.5% increase from Sinner’s winnings last year, though he won’t be defending his title this time around. The runner-up is set to earn €241,650 (about $251,819), also reflecting a nice bump from 2024.

Sinner has officially pulled out of the 2025 Rotterdam Open, and fans are feeling a mix of disappointment and understanding. Fresh off his second consecutive Australian Open title, where he dominated Alexander Zverev in the final, Sinner decided he needed some well-deserved rest after that grueling tournament. In his statement, he expressed how tough it was to step back from defending his title, saying, “I have great memories from winning the title in front of amazing crowds at Rotterdam Ahoy last year and hope to be back there soon.” He will be back at the Qatar Open from February 17.

With Sinner out of the picture, Carlos Alcaraz now takes the top seed position at the Rotterdam Open, setting the stage for an exciting competition with other top players like Daniil Medvedev and Alex de Minaur ready to battle it out.

Carlos Alcaraz makes his first appearance at Rotterdam

Last year, Sinner clinched the title by defeating Alex de Minaur with a score of 7-5, 6-4, but after his recent triumph at the Australian Open, he decided it was time to rest. This opens the door for Carlos Alcaraz, who is now the top seed in Rotterdam. It’s exciting to note that this will be Alcaraz’s first appearance at the Rotterdam Open, as he previously favored the Rio Open.

However, this is no easy task for Alcaraz as he will need to conquer his indoor hard-court challenges if he hopes to lift the 2025 ABN AMRO Open trophy. While he has had great success on outdoor hard courts, his indoor performance has been a bit rocky, as seen during the ATP Finals in Turin. But, with Sinner out of the mix, Alcaraz’s path to victory looks a little clearer. He’ll be facing off against Botic van de Zandschulp in his opening match on February 3, and it’s worth noting that their head-to-head record stands at 1-2, with Carlos leading.

Adding to the excitement, Daniil Medvedev, the 2023 champion, is also making his return after missing last year’s event due to fatigue and injury against the Italian who put up quite a fight at the 2024 Australian Open final that lasted a thrilling three hours and 44 minutes. The competition is heating up with a stacked field that includes world No. 8 Alex de Minaur and other top players. As players gear up for this thrilling tournament, all eyes will be on whether Alcaraz can overcome his indoor hurdles and claim not just his first Rotterdam title but also a hefty prize purse!