MARBURG, July 5, 2017
Oscar Otte and Uladzimir Ignatik caused the upsets of the day at the €43,000 Marburg Open on Tuesday. Otte knocked out the tournament’s number two and World No. 99 Guido Pella in the first round, scoring a 6-4, 6-3 win.
The 23-year-old German, who captured his maiden title on the ATP Challenger Tour last month in Lisbon, saved the only break point he faced, converting two of his own to secure victory in one hour and 12 minutes.
Pella made his tournament debut in Marburg and lifted the Aspria Tennis Cup trophy in Milan last Sunday. Next up for Otte will be compatriot Matthias Bachinger, who battled through the qualifying and beat Spaniard Enrique López-Pérez in the opening round.
Ignatik defeated former World No. 5 Tommy Robredo, who advanced to the semi-finals in Milan last week, 7-6, 7-5. The fourth seed from Belarus sent down nine aces, winning 75 per cent of his first service points to prevail after two hours and two minutes. Ignatik will next take on Brazilian qualifier Joao Pedro Sorgi, who battled past Italian Lorenzo Giustino in three sets on Monday.
Meanwhile, top seed Casper Ruud advanced to the second round but had to work hard, fighting past German qualifier Tim Puetz. The #NextGenATP star from Norway broke serve five times to earn a 6-2, 6-7, 6-2 win after one hour and 51 minutes. Ruud will next face Yannick Hanfmann, who beat Attila Balazs from Hungary 7-5, 6-1. The pair will meet for the first time.