HEILBRONN, May 12, 2021
German veteran Philipp Kohlschreiber headlined Wednesday’s second-round action at the award-winning NECKARCUP. The No. 7 seed of the ATP Challenger 100 tournament rallied from a set down to overcome 19-year-old US-American Brandon Nakashima 3-6, 6-4, 6-1.
In chilly conditions at the TC Heilbronn Trappensee E.V. 1892, 37-year-old Kohlschreiber needed some time to find his rhythm. The former World No. 16 sent down five aces and won 65 per cent of his first-service points to secure victory in two hours and 25 minutes.
Three sets & one broken racket later …
Philipp Kohlschreiber 🇩🇪 battles past Brandon Nakashima 🇺🇸 3-6 6-4 6-1 to advance to the QF.#NECKARCUP #ATPChallenger #Heilbronn pic.twitter.com/uGujH779Xv
— NECKARCUP Heilbronn (@NeckarH) May 12, 2021
“Fighting was key today,” Kohlschreiber said. “It was pretty cold and wet at the beginning of the match. He made it not easy for me and I showed some emotions on court, but that’s good and seemed to help me in the second and third set.”
The World No. 121 has reached his first quarterfinal since lifting the trophy at the Bendigo Challenger in Australia in January 2020. “Of course you want to win every tournament you play. I am motivated and it feels good to play three matches in row again. That’s great.”
Up next for Kohlschreiber will be Daniel Elahi Galan of Colombia, who battled past Italian alternate Alessandro Giannessi of Italy 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-5 in the longest match of the day. The No. 4 seed won 52 per cent of the total points played to finish the encounter after exactly three hours.
Menezes takes out Hanfmann
Later on Center Court, lucky loser Joao Menezes continued his fine run of form in the main draw by reaching the quarterfinals. The 24-year-old Brazilian upset No. 2 seed Yannick Hanfmann of Germany 6-4, 6-3. Menezes capitalized on four of his 10 break-point chances to advance after one hour and 36 minutes.
Hanfmann struggled with an injury on his left hand and received medical treatment after the first set. “He started very well,” said Menezes. “I tried to stay competitive and to hit the ball as hard as I can. I saw that he had some problems on his wrist. Of course, I feel sorry for him but I tried to put some pressure on his backhand.”
“… and here I am!”😄
Lucky loser Joao Menezes continued his great run of form in the main draw by reaching the QF.
The 24-year-old 🇧🇷 upset No. 2 seed Yannick Hanfmann 🇩🇪 6-4 6-3 in 1h 36 min.
🗣️ Post-match interview 🗣️#ATPChallengerTour #NECKARCUP #Heilbronn pic.twitter.com/v6cruNDpH3
— NECKARCUP Heilbronn (@NeckarH) May 12, 2021
The World No. 196, who is playing his second tournament of the season on European soil after Biella in Italy last week, will next face No. 8 seed Mackenzie McDonald from the United States. The 26-year-old Florida resident fought past Belgian Kimmer Coppejans 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 after two hours and 10 minutes.
In other action, Dennis Novak had to go the distance to fight past qualifier Mats Moraing 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-5. The No. 3 seed from Austria, who had to complete his 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 first-round win against local wild card entry Yannick Maden earlier in the day, withstood 11 aces from the big-serving German and broke Moraing’s serve five times to prevail after two hours and 25 minutes.
Welcome to the final 8️⃣!
Dennis Novak 🇦🇹 is through to the quarterfinals following a 7-6(4) 4-6 7-5 win over 🇩🇪 qualfier Mats Moraing. #ATPChallenger #NECKARCUP #Heilbronn pic.twitter.com/8awwERkEBM
— NECKARCUP Heilbronn (@NeckarH) May 12, 2021
Novak will next play fifth seed Taro Daniel. The 28-year-old Japanese beat Argentine lucky loser Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-4, 6-1 in one hour and 32 minutes.
Earlier in the day, Bernabe Zapata Miralles of Spain eased past Germany’s Oscar Otte 6-2, 6-1 and will next meet Sumit Nagal of India, who defeated Frenchman Antoine Hoang 1-6, 6-1, 6-4.
“I know him, he is a friend of mine but we have never played other,” Nagal said of his upcoming opponent. “I am looking forward to this match.”
NECKARCUP RESULTS – MAY 12, 2021
Singles – Second Round
[LL] J. Menezes (BRA) d [2] [WC] Y. Hanfmann (GER) 64 63
[3] D. Novak (AUT) d [Q] M. Moraing (GER) 76(4) 46 75
[4] D. Galan (COL) d [Alt] A. Giannessi (ITA) 67(4) 76(7) 64
[5] T. Daniel (JPN) d [LL] T. Etcheverry (ARG) 64 61
[7] P. Kohlschreiber (GER) d B. Nakashima (USA) 36 64 61
[8] M. McDonald (USA) d [Alt] K. Coppejans (BEL) 64 46 63
B. Zapata Miralles (ESP) d O. Otte (GER) 62 61
S. Nagal (IND) d A. Hoang (FRA) 16 61 64
First Round
[3] D. Novak (AUT) d [WC] Y. Maden (GER) 62 26 75
Doubles – First Round
[2] S. Arends (NED) / D. Sharan (IND) d T. Daniel (JPN) / B. Zapata Miralles (ESP) 62 75
[4] R. Matos (BRA) / F. Meligeni Rodrigues Alves (BRA) d I. Sabanov (CRO) / M. Sabanov (CRO) 63 60
L. Glasspool (GBR) / M. Reid (AUS) d L. Martinez (VEN) / D. Vega Hernandez (ESP) 36 64 10-8
A. Goransson (SWE) / S. Verbeek (NED) d D. Masur (GER) / D. Molchanov (UKR) 76(2) 76(3)
D. Kudla (USA) / M. McDonald (USA) d [WC] T. Altuna (TUR) / A. Celikbilek (TUR) 64 64
M. Polmans (AUS) / A. Sitak (NZL) d [WC] A. Begemann (GER) / D. Brown (GER) 64 64
ORDER OF PLAY – THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2021
CENTER COURT start 12:00
B. Zapata Miralles (ESP) vs S. Nagal (IND)
[3] D. Novak (AUT) vs [5] T. Daniel (JPN)
Not Before 15:00
[7] P. Kohlschreiber (GER) vs [4] D. Galan (COL)
M. Polmans (AUS) / A. Sitak (NZL) vs [2] S. Arends (NED) / D. Sharan (IND)
COURT 1 start 12:00
[4] R. Matos (BRA) / F. Meligeni Rodrigues Alves (BRA) vs A. Goransson (SWE) / S. Verbeek (NED)
[8] M. McDonald (USA) vs [LL] J. Menezes (BRA)
[1] A. Qureshi (PAK) / A. Vasilevski (BLR) vs L. Glasspool (GBR) / M. Reid (AUS)
After suitable rest – D. Kudla (USA) / M. McDonald (USA) vs [3] N. Lammons (USA) / J. Withrow (USA)
