HEILBRONN, May 11, 2022
Home favourite Daniel Altmaier has booked his spot in the quarterfinals of the NECKARCUP. The top seed of the award-winning ATP Challenger in Heilbronn defeated Frenchman Constant Lestienne 6-1, 6-4.
On a sunny and hot day with temperatures above 25 degrees Celsius in southwestern Germany, Altmaier had the better start into the match but struggled in the second set. The World No. 66, however, could rely on his serve in the crucial moments. Altmaier sent down five aces and won 72 per cent of his first-service points to secure victory in one hour and 11 minutes.
Delighting his home crowd 👏
Daniel Altmaier will be the last 🇩🇪 left in the singles draw. The top seed defeats Constant Lestienne 🇫🇷 6-1 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals in Heilbronn.#ATPChallenger #NECKARCUP pic.twitter.com/e65yCfn9S8
— NECKARCUP Heilbronn (@NeckarH) May 11, 2022
“It was hot today and the court was very fast,” said Altmaier. “It’s not easy against him, as he had a lot of ups and downs in his game but I was focused and controlled my emotions. That was important.”
Altmaier will next take on #NextGenATP star Thiago Tirante. The 2019 French Open Boys’ doubles champion emerged victorious from the all-Argentine affair with Camilo Ugo Carabelli, winning 6-2, 6-1 in one hour and 21 minutes.
“I was really excited about this match. I have never played him before. He had a good run in Argentina, winning a Challenger tournament, so I am very happy with this win,” said Tirante, who is making his Heilbronn debut and is competing in his first European tournament of the year.
Earlier in the season, the 21-year-old from La Plata had to deal with a leg injury. “The start into the year was tough. I am grateful to be in the quarterfinals at this fantastic tournament here.”
In other action, No. 3 seed Daniel Elahi Galan of Colombia outlasted Benjamin Hassan from Lebanon 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 after one hour and 47 minutes. The runner-up of last year’s event will next play Chun-hsin Tseng. The fifth seed from Chinese Taipei eased past German qualifier Henri Squire 6-1, 6-2 in only 61 minutes.
Forejtek to face Ritschard
In the bottom half of the draw, Jonas Forejtek knocked No. 2 seed Facundo Bagnis of Argentina 7-6(8), 2-6, 6-3. The 21-year-old Czech qualifier withstood seven and broke his rival two times to prevail after two hours and 34 minutes.
Sealed with an ace! 🎾
A 2 h 30 min battle on Court 2 is over, concluding with a 7-6 2-6 6-3 win for #NextGenATP 🇨🇿 Jonas Forejtek over No. 2 seed Facundo Bagnis 🇦🇷#ATPChallenger #NECKARCUP pic.twitter.com/J9Dgtg0ZH4
— NECKARCUP Heilbronn (@NeckarH) May 11, 2022
Forejtek will next take on Alexander Ritschard, who cruised past Serbian lucky loser Miljan Zekic 6-1, 6-1 in just under an hour of play. “Being aggressive, finding my forehand and to play my game. That was key today,” the World No. 213 from Switzerland told Tennis TourTalk.
Ritschard, 28, was born in Zürich to an US-American mother and a Swiss father. He went to the University of Virginia in Charlottesville and represented the United States from 2018 to the beginning of this season. “My home is Switzerland, so it was a personal decision to once again playing under the Swiss flag,” explained Ritschard, who is coached by Colombian Juan Pablo Ramirez.
Bernabe Zapata Miralles emerged victorious from the battle of the former NECKARCUP champion, beating 2018 winner Rudolf Molleker from Germany 6-4, 6-4 after one hour and 23 minutes. The No. 4 seed and defending champion from Spain will next face eighth-seeded Slovakian Andrej Martin, who ended the good run of Ukrainian qualifier Oleksii Krutykh with a solid 6-2, 6-3 win. The encounter lasted one hour and 14 minutes.
RESULTS – MAY 11, 2022Singles – Second Round[1] D. Altmaier (GER) d C. Lestienne (FRA) 61 64[Q] J. Forejtek (CZE) d [2] F. Bagnis (ARG) 76(8) 26 63[3] D. Galan (COL) d [Q] B. Hassan (LIB) 62 46 62[4] [WC] B. Zapata Miralles (ESP) d [Q] R. Molleker (GER) 64 64[5] C. Tseng (TPE) d [Q] H. Squire (GER) 61 62[8] A. Martin (SVK) d [Q] O. Krutykh (UKR) 63 64T. Tirante (ARG) d C. Ugo Carabelli (ARG) 62 61[Alt] A. Ritschard (SUI) d [LL] M. Zekic (SRB) 61 61
Doubles – First Round[1] D. Molchanov (UKR) / J. Withrow (USA) d H. Jebens (GER) / J. Lenz (GER) 26 62 10-8V. Cornea (ROU) / F. Fallert (GER) d [3] J. O’Mara (GBR) / J. Smith (AUS) 62 46 14-12[4] H. Reese (USA) / S. Verbeek (NED) d D. Brown (GER) / B. Hassan (LIB) 63 46 10-4J. Sels (NED) / B. Stevens (NED) d [Alt] A. Vatutin / M. Zekic (SRB) 46 63 10-5N. Barrientos (COL) / M. Reyes-Varela (MEX) d J. Cerretani (USA) / T. Fancutt (AUS) 62 63M. Bortolotti (ITA) / S. Martos Gornes (ESP) d [WC] Y. Erel (TUR) / K. Kirci (TUR) 64 64
