ISMANING, October 17, 2019 (by Dietmar Kaspar)
Thursday’s third-round action at the Wolffkran Open 2019, hosted at the venue of the Tennis Club Ismaning, was headlined by the victory of Maxime Cressy against the champion of 2017.
The 22-year-old US-American, who is seeded No. 12 at the €69,280 ATP Challenger event and lifted his maiden ATP Challenger title in Cleveland earlier this season, battled past Yannick Hanfmann from Germany. Coming back from a set down, the former college player for UCLA in California outpointed his No. 8 seeded rival by the score of 81-74, to claim a 6-3, 7-5 win after 74 minutes. Cressy, the World No. 214, will next face Daniel Masur from Germany.
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“It was a very tough match from the beginning to the end. He is definitely difficult to play on this surface, especially when he is on serve. I just focused on myself and found some solutions to get the win,” Cressy told Tennis TourTalk.
Asked about upcoming opponents he said: “Tournament’s in Europe are completely new for me, I do not know anybody of the players here”.
24-year-old Masur opened today’s action on Centre Court against Italian veteran Luca Vanni. The No. 15 seed from Germany, who is ranked World No. 235, saved all seven break points he faced and converted two of his three break-point chances, to seal a 6-3, 7-5 win after 74 minutes.
“Winning against such an experienced player in straight sets is a really good feeling. It was not my best match, but I made the points when it was needed. I knew that he wants to stay solid on serve and keep the rallies short, so I tried to open the field and made him move at the baseline,” Masur told Tennis TourTalk after the match.
Lacko upsets Baldi
No. 16 seeded Lukas Lacko cruised past the defending champion Filippo Baldi from Italy. The World No. 239, who reached a career high at World No. 44 in 2013, capitalized on three of his seven break-point opportunities, to secure a 6-1, 6-4 victory after 62 minutes.
“I played a really good match. I think his game suits more to clay court because he is spinning the ball very intense. After the final break I stayed focused to finish the match,” Lacko stated.
The 31-year-old Slovakian will next take on Teymuraz Gabashvili of Russia, who defeated Marc-Andrea Huesler of Switzerland 6-3, 4-6, 7-5.
Vesely survives Napolitano
Top seed Jiri Vesely rallied down No. 14 seed Stefano Napolitano of Italy after losing the first set in a dramatic tiebreak. The 26-year-old Czech, currently ranked World No. 120, won 86 per cent of his first-service points to seal a 6-7(9), 6-4, 6-3 victory lasting exactly two hours.
“In the first set I was leading by a break, but then I gave it back with three double faults and lost the first set in a very close tiebreak. But then I played really good tennis and I am very happy about the win,” Vesely stated.
Vesely will next take on No. 10 seeded Adrian Menendez-Maceiras, who defeated French No. 7 seed Quentin Halys. The 33-year-old Spaniard, who is ranked World No. 233, was outpointed by his 22-year-old opponent 104-117, but prevailed 3-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(5) after two hours and 25 minutes.
“I knew that Halys is a big-serving player, so my goal was to reach the tiebreak and try my best. In the two tiebreaks he did not have many first services, so I was able to get the win,” Menendez Maceiras said.
World‘s No. 392 Johannes Haerteis, who reached the semi-finals as a qualifier last year, edged past Zdenek Kolar from the Czech Republic. The 23-year-old German made two points more than his rival to advance 7-6(4), 7-6(5) after one hour and 43 minutes.
“It was an equal match, so both players were able to win. But I played a little bit more aggressively in the two tiebreaks,” Haerteis said and will next face compatriot Julian Lenz, who beat Constant Lestienne of France 7-6(1), 6-4.
