LUDWIGSHAFEN, July 3, 2019
While the main focus is on the tennis stars at The Championships in Wimbledon, two ATP Challenger tournaments are taking place in Germany the next fortnight. First stop is Ludwigshafen, where the local BASF Tennisclub hosts a 56-man singles main draw this week.
Local favourite Benjamin Hassan headlined Tuesday’s second round action with a 6-2, 6-2 win over No. 3 seed Joao Sousa of Portugal. The 24-year-old German sent down five aces and didn’t face a break point to advance in only 57 minutes. Hassan will next take on Alex Molcan. The World No. 331 from Slovakia fought past Tim van Rijthoven from the Netherlands, rallying 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-4 in two hours and eight minutes.
Earlier in the day, Yannick Hanfmann won his opening match against No. 11 seed Joao Domingues from Portugal 6-3, 3-6, 6-1. The 27-year-old German broke his opponent’s serve three times to reach the second round after one hour and 47 minutes. Up next for Hanfmann, who qualified for the main draw at Roland Garros for the first time this year and lost to Rafael Nadal, will be Johannes Haerteis. The 23-year-old wild card entry emerged victorious from the all-German affair with Julian Lenz, winning 3-6, 7-6(3), 7-6(4) in two hours and 43 minutes.
POINT!!!
🇩🇪 wild card Johannes Haerteis claims a brilliant exchange in Ludwigshafen, rallying from a set and a break down to advance. pic.twitter.com/a9ODjR47Su
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) 2. Juli 2019
The top two seeds of the Ludwigshafen Challenger will step into action on Wednesday. No. 1 Henri Laaksonen from Switzerland will take on Lucas Miedler of Austria and second favourite Stefano Travaglia of Italy will be challenged by Santiago Giraldo of Colombia.
RESULTS – JULY 02, 2019
Singles – Second Round
B. Hassan (GER) d [3] P. Sousa (POR) 62 62
[Alt] A. Molcan (SVK) d [ITF] T. Van Rijthoven (NED) 67(4) 62 64
B. Zapata Miralles (ESP) d D. Masur (GER) 06 61 60
D. Gimeno-Traver (ESP) d R. Dutra Silva (BRA) 36 76(5) 60
First Round
[9] F. Bagnis (ARG) d L. Grigelis (LTU) 64 61
Y. Hanfmann (GER) d [11] J. Domingues (POR) 63 36 61
[15] D. Galan (COL) d [ITF] C. Heyman (BEL) 61 62
[16] C. Lestienne (FRA) d [ITF] J. Barranco Cosano (ESP) 62 64
T. de Bakker (NED) d [ITF] S. Ehrat (SUI) 64 64
[Q] A. Metreveli (GEO) d [Q] R. Olivo (ARG) 75 76(4)
N. Kuhn (ESP) d G. Quinzi (ITA) 36 76(5) 63
[WC] J. Haerteis (GER) d [WC] J. Lenz (GER) 36 76(3) 76(4)
[ITF] P. Heller (GER) d [ITF] C. Denolly (FRA) 62 63
S. Giraldo (COL) d B. Bonzi (FRA) 67(5) 63 30 Retired
Doubles – First Round
[3] D. Brown (GER) / H. Hach Verdugo (MEX) d [WC] M. Gengel (CZE) / V. Schneider (GER) 64 76(1)
F. Horansky (SVK) / L. Miedler (AUT) d K. Drzewiecki (POL) / S. Walkow (POL) 75 75
A. Siljestrom (SWE) / E. Ymer (SWE) d A. Begemann (GER) / T. Kamke (GER) walkover
