STUTTGART, June 12, 2017

Three of four Germans in action on Monday advanced to the second round at the MercedesCup. Yannick Hanfmann emgerged victorious from the battle of the qualifiers with Vicenza Challenger champion Marton Fucsovics, winning 6-3, 7-5.

The 25-year-old Karlsruhe resident saved three of the five break points he faced, converting five of his own to prevail in one hour and 10 minutes. Following his great run into the quarterfinals of the BMW Open in Munich in April, Hanfmann has reached the second round of an ATP event for the second time.

“I still feel some problems with the different movement on the grass compared to the clay,” Hanfmann told afterwards. The World No. 187, ranked on a career high, could face Roger Federer in the stage of the final eight. “This would be a dream to come true. After the match, I could immediately end my career,” the sympathic German was kidding.

Next up for Hanfmann, however, will be Mischa Zverev. The sixth seed is back on one of his favourite surfaces, easing past Malek Jaziri from Tunisia 6-3, 6-1. Zverev sent down seven aces, winning 89 per cent of his first service points to secure victory in only 53 minutes.

“He plays a decent backhand slice and comes often to the net but I was well prepared,” Zverev was satisfied with his performance.

The two Germans will be joined by fellow countryman Jan-Lennard Struff in the second round. The 27-year-old from Warstein defeated Slovakian qualifier Lukas Lacko 6-4, 7-6 facing the tournament’s number four Lucas Pouille of France next.

The only German falling on Monday was Maximlian Marterer. The wild card entry lost to fifth favourite Steve Johnson from the United States 6-3, 6-7, 4-6. The 27-year-old from California awaits the winner of the encounter between Marcos Baghdatis from Cyprus and local hero Philipp Kohlschreiber.