ISMANING, October 20, 2020
Lukas Lacko opened his title defence at the Wolffkran Open with a hard-fought 5-7, 7-6(4), 6-1 win over 17-year-old German wild card entry Max Hans Rehberg, who played his first match on the ATP Challenger Tour, at the Tennis Club Ismaning on Tuesday .
The World No. 188 from Slovakia sent down eight aces and won 71 per cent of his first-service points to seal victory in two hours and 10 minutes.
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“The first match of the tournament is always difficult,” Lacko told Tennis TourTalk. “Playing on carpet is special. There are only two tournaments held on this surface during the season. My opponent had nothing to lose. He is a very young guy, who typically played without respect. He served well and played solid from the baseline. I couldn’t find my rhythm. I lost a couple of rallies.
“Moreover, my shoulder is not in best condition and I had some issues with the speed on my serve. I was lucky in the second set when I was a break down, but played well again in the tie-break. I took advantage of the first break in the third set, made a second one and the match was over.”
Lacko, who has lifted 13 Challenger trophies in his career, celebrated his most recent triumph here in Ismaning.
“I like it here but it’s a strange year and motivation is not that high. At least I am trying not to get out of shape and let’s see what’s going to happen next year,” said Lacko and will next take on No. 7 seed Prajnesh Gunneswaran of India.
German qualifiers advance
In other action, Daniel Masur knocked out No. 3 seed Gregoire Barrere of France 6-3, 6-2. The 25-year-old German qualifier was in total control of the encounter, didn’t face a break point and converted three of his own six break point chances to advance in 54 minutes.
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Masur will next play German wild card entry Mats Rosenkranz, who upset last year’s finalist Maxime Cressy from the United States 7-5, 7-6(3) to earn his first main draw match win at Challenger level.
With Julian Lenz, another qualifier from Germany booked his spot in the second round. The World No. 265 from Gießen rallied past Juan Pablo Ficovich from Argentina 5-7, 7-5, 6-4. Lenz won one point more than his opponent to finish the encounter after two hours and four minutes.
“It was a tough challenge today,” said Lenz. “My opponent served well, which was difficult too read. I tried to be there when I had to the chance to break and it worked out pretty well.”
Lenz, co-organizer of the International Premier League in Germany during the suspension of the regular main tennis circuits alongside his friend Andre Begemann, will next meet either Zdenek Kolar from the Czech Republic or No. 5 seeded US-American young gun Sebastian Korda.
