ISMANING, October 29, 2021
Maxime Cressy from the United States is back in the semi-final of the Wolffkran Open, one of only two ATP Challenger Tour tournaments held on carpet. The No. 7 seed and runner-up at the €44,820 event two years ago fought past Kacper Zuk from Poland 6-7(7), 6-4, 7-6(4) at the Tennis Club Ismaning on Friday.
Cressy dominated the match with his serve, firing 32 aces and winning 87 per cent of his first-service points. The World No. 141 saved the only break point he faced to prevail after two hours and 20 minutes.
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“It was really a fantastic match,” Cressy told Dietmar Kaspar in his post-match interview. “We were both very consistent. It was just a battle, who was going to be more stable on very small details. He was serving very well, playing some amazing shots from the baseline. On surface like that it is very hard to return but I am very happy.”
Up next for the California resident will be in-form Oscar Otte from Germany. The No. 5 seed from Cologne outlasted home favourite and former carpet king of the Eckental Challenger Maximilian Marterer 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(5) after two hours and seven minutes. Otte came from 2-5 down in the tie-break of the final set, winning five points in a row.
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“I was looking forward to this match because I knew it would be a good one with great rallies. In the first set, I had a bit of a problem with my shoulder, which was a bit stiff but luckily hadn’t caused any pain. It became better in the second set and so I was able to turn the match around with a bit of luck in the tie-break,” said Otte.
In the top half of the draw, Quentin Halys also rallied from a set down to overcome Czech qualifier Jonas Forejtek 3-6, 6-2, 6-2. The No. 8 seed from France won 53 per cent of the total points played to advance after one hour and 19 minutes.
“It was a great match for me,” Halys said. “I had a bad start, didn’t serve well but it got better. It was tough to break but I played solid from the baseline.”
The World No. 148 from Bondy is competing this week in Ismaning for the fourth time. “I like this tournament. It’s a fast surface here. I managed to play very well and I always enjoy my time here.”
Halys will next take on 2019 Wolffkran Open champion Lukas Lacko. The 33-year-old Slovakian battled past German qualifier Matthias Bachinger 7-5, 3-6, 6-4. The encounter lasted two hours and nine minutes.
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