AUGSBURG/STARNBERG, May 20, 2024
The ATP Challenger Tour is back in Germany for the third edition of the Schwaben Open. The €36,900 clay-court tournament is being held this week at the Tennis Club Augsburg Siebentischwald.
Top seed Timofey Skatov opened his title bid with a comfortable 6-4, 6-3 first-round win over Mohamed Safwat of Egypt on Monday. The World No. 242 won 76 per cent of his first-service points and broke his rival’s serve three times to seal victory in one hour and 31 minutes. Skatov will next take on either Slovakian qualifier Norbert Gombos or Italian qualifier Andrea Picchione.
US-American alternate Toby Kobat knocked off wild card entry Oscar Otte of Germany 7-6(7), 4-6, 6-3. The 21-year-old Florida native withstood 15 aces and won six points more than his rival to prevail after two hours and 33 minuets. Kobat, who clinched his maiden title on the Pro Circuit in Antalya, Turkey three years ago, will next play Mexican Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez.
Gentzsch celebrate maiden match win
Home favourite Tom Gentzsch celebrated his first main draw match win at Challenger level following a 6-1, 7-6(3) win over Briton Felix Gill in one hour and 26 minutes.
Tom Gentzsch makes his mark ✍️
The 20-year-old clinches his first Challenger main draw win, edging past Felix Gill 6-1, 7-6(3) in Augsburg#ATPChallenger | @DTB_Tennis pic.twitter.com/f7SDviO9wb
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) May 20, 2024
“I started incredibly well and gave him few chances in the first set,” the World No. 527 said afterwards. “From the beginning, I was able to put a lot of pressure on his serve and broke his serve twice to win the set. In the second set, he played much more cleverly and made it more difficult for me. But I served very well throughout the match and I think that I deserved to win the match.”
Up next for Gentzsch will be either No. 8 seed Elmer Moller of Denmark or his compatriot Marko Topo.
In other action, defending champion Carlos Taberner defeated Moez Echargui of Tunisia 6-4, 6-3. The 26-year-old Spaniard capitalized on six of his 10 break-point chances to advance in two hours and four minutes. Taberner now awaits the winner of the encounter between local wild card entry Liam Gavrielides and fourth-seeded Czech Michael Vrbensky.
