MUNICH, April 24, 2022
Four qualifiers have booked a spot in the main draw of the BMW Open by American Express. Czech young gun Jiri Lehecka defeated Alejandro Tabilo of Chile 6-4, 7-6(3) in the final round of qualifying on a chilly Sunday in Munich. The 20-year-old converted two of his six break-point chances to advance after one hour and 33 minutes.
World No. 93 Lehecka, a winner of two ATP Challenger titles, will play Danish teenage sensation Holger Rune, who received a wild card into the ATP 250 clay-court event, trying to continue his speedy progression through the senior ranks. The World No. 72 and Lehecka will go head-to-head on Monday. The winner of this encounter will be the first opponent of the tournament’s top seed and home favourite Alexander Zverev.
Welcome @holgerrune2003 🤩 Nice to have you in munich! 🙌🏼 #bmwopenbyamex #tennis pic.twitter.com/reorCGb8ME
— BMW Open by American Express (@BMWOpen2022) April 24, 2022
In other action, 18-year-old Serbian Marko Topo upset Norbert Gombos of Slovakia 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 to reach the main draw of an ATP Tour event for the second time following the Belgrade Open last year. Topo, who was born in Munich, will challenge Cologne native Oscar Otte in the first round.
Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka fought past Yannick Hanfmann of Germany 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-4 in two hours and 41 minutes and will start his main draw campaign against Finnish youngster Emil Ruusuvuori. Egor Gerasimov of Belarus cruised past Brazilian Thiago Monteiro 6-1, 6-1 in just under one hour of play and will take on Australia’s John Millman next.
