ISMANING, October 12, 2019
The ATP Challenger Tour will return to Germany next week kicking off a three-week indoor swing in Ismaning, a municipality in Bavaria, located near Munich. The main draw of the WOLFFKRAN Open is led by two big-serving former top 100 players.
Jiri Vesely will be the No. 1 seed of the third edition of the €69,280 event to be held on carpet at the Tennis Club Ismaning. The former World No. 35 from the Czech Republic is currently ranked at World No. 128 and is seeking his first title since winning on home soil in Prostejov two years ago. After a first-round bye, Vesely will take on either Lucas Miedler of Austria or Roberto Ortega-Olmedo from Spain.
Robin Haase is the tournament’s No. 2 and will open his title bid against the winner of the encounter between Johannes Haerteis from Germany and Austrian Maximilian Neuchrist. The World No. 150 from the Netherlands could lift his first trophy in three years.
Defending champion Filipo Baldi will return to Ismaning. The 23-year-old Italian defeated Gleb Sakharov in last year’s final to clinch his maiden crown on the ATP Challenger Tour. Baldi was awarded a wild card into the main draw.
„I’m so happy to be back in Ismaning this year! Thank you so much for giving me the WC. I want to enjoy every moment there,” Baldi stated on instagram. He will be the seeded third and will start against a Frenchman, either Hugo Grenier or Geoffrey Blancaneaux.
Local favourite Matthias Bachinger also accepted a wild card and will lead a strong German contingent. The No. 5 seed will be joined by his compatriots Benjamin Hassan (first round against Andrea Arnaboldi), Daniel Masur (bye), 2017 champion Yannick Hanfmann (bye), Jeremy Jahn (against Tomas Machac) and Daniel Altmaier (against Jan Choinski).
Jonas Forejtek will also be part of the line-up. The 18-year-old from the Czech Republic and his partner Dalibor Svrčina won the 2019 Australian boys’ doubles title, beating Emilio Nava and Cannon Kingsley in the finals. In the 2019 US Open boys’ singles, Forejtek defeated Emilio Nava in the championship match in three sets. The teenager entered the WOLFFKRAN Open with a wild card and will play his only fifth main draw match at ATP Challenger level against German youngster Louis Wessels in the first round.
For tickets, please visit the tournament’s official website.
