BRAUNSCHWEIG, July 7, 2019

Following the inaugural Ludwigshafen Challenger, a two-week ATP Challenger clay-court swing in Germany continues with the Sparkassen Open in Braunschweig. First-round action kicked off on Sunday headlined by local wild card entry Daniel Altmaier.

The 20-year-old German defeated Karim-Mohamed Maamoun of Egypt 6-4, 7-6(4). Altmaier sent down eight aces, winning 79 per cent of his first service points to advance in one hour and 38 minutes. Next up for the youngster will be No. 15 seeded compatriot Oscar Otte.

Johannes Haerteis emerged victorious from the battle of the German wild cards, rallying 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 against Cedrik-Marcel Stebe. The 23-year-old Nuremberg native won four points more than Stebe to prevail after two hours and 49 mintues. Haerteis will take on teenager Rudolf Molleker.

After a break due to injury, Spanish #NextGenATP player Carlos Taberner made a successful return to the tour. In his first match since May, the 21-year-old edged past ITF-entry Peter Heller from Germany 7-6(4), 6-1. The encounter lasted one hour and 45 minutes. Taberner will next play No. 5 seed Kamil Majchrzak from Poland.

Caspar Ruud from Norway is the top seed of the €69,280 event and awaits either defending champion Yannick Hanfmann or Julian Lenz of Germany in his opening match. No. 2 seed Hugo Dellien of Bolivia will open his campaign against the winner of the match between Maximilian Marterer of Germany or Spaniard Javier Barranco Cosano.