MOST, May 28, 2023
Henri Squire has captured the singles title of the 23rd edition of the ITF M25 Most. In a rematch of the 2021 Germany’s National Tennis Championships final, the 22-year-old from Duisburg fought past his compatriot and tournament’s top seed Timo Stodder 6-1, 3-6, 6-0.
On a sunny Sunday morning at the TK Most, Squire, champion in Biberach two years ago, set the tone early, dominating most of the rallies with his powerful serve and baseline game. World No. 313 Stodder needed some time to find into the match but started to put more variety in his shots with the beginning of the second set. In the end, however, Squire was the more solid player this day.
The second seed in the Ústí nad Labem Region of the Czech Republic sent down three aces and won 64 per cent of his first-service points to prevail after one hour and 40 minutes.
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“I am already in the Czech Republic for the second week. After the final in Prague last week, I felt a bit exhausted today,” Squire told Tennis TourTalk afterwards. “Timo is a player who stands far away from the baseline, plays a lot of rallies and hardly gives you free points. But I was very patient today and quickly found my focus again after losing the second set. In the third set I also played very well.”
For the second consecutive week, the World No. 327 was accompanied by his new coach Lars Zimmermann, also known for organizing and being the tournament director of the Koblenz Open ATP Challenger Tour event.
“This was our first trip together. It worked out great. The chemistry was right. We used it as a test phase together, but I think we will continue to work together,” Squire said about the new partnership. “Before, I was on my own a lot and didn’t really play well. Less from the tennis, but from the head I wasn’t really there. Lars gave me a lot of input and positive energy. That paid off.”
By winning his second singles title on the Pro Circuit following his triumph in Bath, United Kingdom in February, the former college player for the Wake Forest University earned $3,600 in prize money as well as 25 ATP Ranking points.
Squire will next compete on home soil at the ATP Challenger in Troisdorf, where he received a wild card. Stodder will stay in Czechia for another week, playing at the ITF World Tennis Tour M25 event in Jablonec.
