Hello Leipzig: Here’s how Monday 3 August 2026 gets off to a start

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Mayor Jung is likely to be treated to an extra cup of coffee today, as the Sportforum is hosting world-class women’s tennis. In Markkleeberg, the ongoing sewer works are set to be stepped up a notch, whilst in the west of Leipzig, it should become easier to catch a bus in future. A court case concerning assets hidden under the floorboards was postponed at short notice this morning. The LZ will report on it once the rescheduled date has been announced.

Markkleeberg’s Rathausstraße is set to be closed for even longer 

Even now, at least car and motorbike users have to put up with a diversion if they want to travel from Markkleeberg centre towards Cospudener See. Back in October 2024, the waterworks laid new pipes there. A year later, Deutsche Bahn renovated the level crossing, before the comprehensive redevelopment of Rathausstraße began in 2026.

Incidentally, until the redevelopment, this was one of the few main roads where the steel railway and tram tracks crossed directly. A fascinating sight that even attracted onlookers in the last millennium.
From today, further construction work will take place in the western section of Rathausstraße. Until 14 August, the Leipzig waterworks will be replacing damaged manhole covers in five consecutive sections between Koburger Straße and Ring 20.

Depending on where the work is taking place, the road will either be fully closed or access will be restricted. The necessary no-stopping zones have already been put in place for all sections.

Easier access to buses in the west in future

Effortless access to the bus. For people in wheelchairs or with other disabilities, as well as for parents with pushchairs, modern access points from the bus stop to the vehicle represent a noticeable improvement in the quality of everyday life.

From today, another such access point is being created: work is beginning on William-Zipperer-Straße to make the “Hempelstraße” bus stop accessible. The project is part of the City of Leipzig’s programme to gradually make public transport accessible. The plans include raised kerbs to allow level access on and off the bus, as well as so-called kerb extensions with a tactile paving system at the junction, which will also shorten the crossing distances for pedestrians.

In addition, a new passenger shelter is being built on the side facing the city centre. Particularly welcome news: the existing roadside trees will be preserved despite the construction of the shelter. At the same time as this work, the road surface in the immediate vicinity will be resurfaced. During the individual construction phases, traffic will be diverted past the site on a half-lane basis.

To allow for the resurfacing of the carriageway, William-Zipperer-Straße between Rinckstraße and Güntherstraße is expected to be completely closed for around a week. Bus route 74 will be diverted, depending on the progress of the works. Pedestrians will pass through the construction site via alternating routes. According to current plans, the work is due to be completed by October.

According to the city, the costs amount to around 320,000 euros, with around 90 per cent of the investment being funded by the Leipzig Local Transport Authority (ZVNL).

World-class tennis on the banks of the Elster

A grand start to August: with the official start of the Leipzig Open today, Monday, the city is once again hosting an international women’s world-ranking tournament. The clay-court tournament, part of the ITF Women’s World Tennis Tour W75 category and offering prize money of US$60,000, will be held from 3 to 9 August at the Leipzig Tennis Club 1990 e.V. at Sportforum 7.

In the singles, 32 players in the main draw and a further 32 in the qualifying rounds will compete for the title, alongside a doubles draw featuring 16 pairs. The qualifying rounds began yesterday and will continue today from 11.00 am. The tournament will be officially opened with the ‘Match of the Day’ at 5.00 pm.

The Leipzig Open is designed as a spectator tournament. Visitors are welcome on all days of the tournament, with admission free on the first four days, including Tuesday. From Wednesday to Friday, day tickets cost 10 euros, whilst reduced-price tickets for school pupils, students and children are available for 5 euros. Admission on Saturday and Sunday is 15 euros each day.

In addition to the international women’s world-ranking tournament, national ranking tournaments in category A2 will also be held from Thursday onwards. Matches will take place simultaneously on several courts, complemented for the spectators by a range of food and drink options on the club grounds.

Insiders are, among others, placing high hopes on Tessa Johanna Brockmann, who is competing in Leipzig once again after reaching the final last year. Also in the main draw is the promising young German player Ida Wobker from Osnabrück, who is already competing at international level at the age of 15.

Tickets are required only for the paid tournament days and are also available in advance as digital tickets. The Sportforum venue is accessible by both public transport and car. Tickets for the paid tournament days from Wednesday to Sunday are available in advance via Eventim and on the official Leipzig Open website.

Burkhard Jung and “ä Schälchn Heeßer”

Leipzig’s Lord Mayor Burkhard Jung is expected today at the historic coffee house “Zum Arabischen Coffe Baum” (Kleine Fleischergasse 4) – and not just for a cup of coffee. At 2 pm, he is due to sign the establishment’s historic Golden Guest Book. The honour takes place during his final year in office and builds on a long-standing tradition of the coffee house.

The guest book dates back to 1928 and documents visits by numerous figures from the worlds of politics, culture and society. Signatories listed in the book include, amongst others, the singer Udo Jürgens, former Federal President Horst Köhler and the actor Mario Adorf.

The coffee house “Zum Arabischen Coffe Baum” is one of the state’s most time-honoured dining establishments. The building was first mentioned in a document as early as 1556, whilst evidence of coffee being served there dates back to 1711. It is considered Germany’s oldest coffee house. The historic building also houses the Museum of Leipzig’s Coffee House History.

Following its closure at the end of 2018, the building underwent extensive renovation at a cost of around 3.8 million euros. The restaurant and café resumed operations in April 2025, whilst the redesigned museum reopened its doors in July 2025.