NUSSLOCH, January 23, 2019
The first stop of the ITF World Tennis Tour – the new umbrella name for all former Pro Circuit and Junior Circuit tournaments – in Germany is Nußloch this week. Players gather at the local Racket Center for the 16th edition of the Internationale Herrentennismeisterschaften der Metropolregion Rhein-Necker um den MLP Cup 2019.
Robin Kern
The top two seeds of the $25,000 indoor-event fell on Tuesday. Lucas Miedler of Austria, the tournament’s No. 1, lost to Frenchman Jules Okala 7-6(5), 5-7, 6-7(5).
The 21-year-old withstood 16 aces, breaking his opponent’s serve five times to prevail after two hours and 48 minutes. Okala will next challenge Takanyi Garanganga of Zimbabwe, who rallied past Robin Kern from Germany 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Later in the day, No. 2 seeded Briton Liam Broady lost his first round match to Botic van de Zandschup from the Netherlands 6-1, 6-2. The World No. 536 won 100 per cent of his first service points and 73 per cent of his second service points to advance in only 64 minutes. Next up for van de Zanschup will be Italian Lorenzo Frigerio, who edged out German wild card entry Christian Hirschmüller 6-7(3), 6-2, 6-3. The encounter lasted one hour and 38 minutes.
