BRAUNSCHWEIG, July 8, 2019

Only one day after lifting the trophy of the Ludwigshafen Challenger, Yannick Hanfmann was back on court to start his title defense at the Sparkassen Open in Braunschweig. The 27-year-old German defeated compatriot Julian Lenz, who entered the main draw with a wild card, in his first-round match by the score of 7-5, 6-4.

Hanfmann sent down nine aces, saved both break points he faced and broke his opponent’s serve two times to advance in one hour and 29 minutes. “It’s a special feeling to walk over the venue here,” the World No. 212 said on Monday. Next up for Hanfmann will be the tournament’s top seed Casper Ruud of Norway.

Kuhn falls, seeds advance to third round

2016 champion Nicola Kuhn fell in the opening round to Mats Moraing of Germany. The 19-year-old Spaniard lost 3-6, 6-2, 5-7 in one hour and 44 minutes. “It was a really tough match but I served well,” said Moraing, who will be joined by fellow countrymen Tobias Kamke in the second round. The 33-year-old from Lübeck edged past German qualifier Niklas Guttau, winning 7-5, 6-4 to secure his first match win on clay this season.

Four seeded players reached the third round of the €69,280 ATP Challenger 90 event. Fifth favourite Kamil Majchrzak of Poland beat Carlos Taberner of Spain 7-6(2), 6-3 to set a clash with No. 9 seed Lukas Rosol, who fought past Tallon Griekspoor from the Netherlands 7-5, 2-6, 6-3. No. 11 seeded Italian Gianluca Mager remained untroubled in his 7-5, 6-3 victory against Austria’s Lucas Miedler. The 24-year-old from San Remo will next play the tournament’s No. 6 Thiago Monteiro. The World No. 113 from Brazil defeated Steven Diez from Canada 6-4, 6-3.