CADOLZBURG/STARNBERG, January 16, 2025
Second-round matches headlined Thursday’s action of the second edition of the Cadolzburg Open. The ITF World Tennis Tour M15 indoor carpet event witnessed six German players, including top talent Justin Engel from Nuremberg, advance to the quarterfinals.
Engel shines again
Following his opening-round victory, local star Engel enjoyed strong home support in his second-round match against compatriot Adrian Oetzbach. The 17-year-old made a flying start, racing to a 3-0 lead and maintaining his aggressive play to secure another break and take the first set comfortably.
Engel carried his momentum into the second set, once again claiming the first three games and remaining untroubled on serve. Despite a brief resistance from 27-year-old former college player Oetzbach, Engel sealed a 6-2, 6-3 victory in just 73 minutes.
“Once again, I warmed up intensively and trained with my father for an hour before the match, which helped me start strongly,” Engel noted post-match. “So far, I’ve focused entirely on my own game during the tournament, but for the later rounds, more detailed preparation on my opponents’ strengths and weaknesses will be essential.”
Marysko upsets top seed
Vincent Marysko delivered a stunning performance against top-seeded Kaichi Uchida. The 18-year-old dominated from the start with his powerful strokes, overwhelming the 30-year-old Japanese, who was making his debut on the fast indoor carpet surface in Cadolzburg.
Marysko maintained his aggressive approach throughout, securing a 6-2, 6-3 win in under an hour.
“The result was decisive because I played exceptionally well. My playing style gives me a big advantage on this surface, and I approached the match with great confidence,” said World No. 1187 Marysko.
Wiskandt remains perfect
World No. 513 Max Wiskandt followed up his opening-round triumph over former Davis Cup player Cedrik-Marcel Stebe with another impressive display. Against 20-year-old Slovakian Michael Krajci, coached by former Ismaning Challenger champion Lukas Lacko, Wiskandt excelled with his offensive game, clinching a 6-3, 6-2 victory in 90 minutes.
“I executed my game plan thoroughly and prepared extensively for this match,” said Wiskandt, who will now face fellow German Marysko in the quarterfinals.#
Wehnelt marches on
World No. 811 Kai Wehnelt, who was part of Germany’s winning team at the 2023 United Cup, faced his compatriot Hessian Niklas Schell in a duel characterized by short rallies. While Schell employed frequent net approaches, Wehnelt countered effectively with his versatile style, securing a 6-3 in the first set after an early 3-0 lead.
Though Schell staged a comeback in the second set, forcing a tie-break, Wehnelt regained control to win 6-3, 7-6(2) after one hour and 44 minutes. He now meets local favorite Justin Engel in the quarterfinals.
Funk overcomes Junior Grand Slam champion
Aaron Funk faced a tough challenge against third seed and 2019 US Open Junior champion Jonas Forejtek from the Czech Republic. Forejtek took the opening set despite struggling with physical problems, but Funk raised his level in the second.
After leveling the match, Funk gained an early break in the decider, and Forejtek retired while trailing 6-3, 4-6, 2-0.
Djonov’s dream run continues
Christian Djonov continued his remarkable run in Cadolzburg. After battling through qualifying and earning his first main-draw victory on the Pro Circuit, the 24-year-old faced fifth seed Sebastian Fanselow. Djonov’s aggressive baseline game proved decisive in the 7-6(0), 6-3 victory, setting up a quarterfinal clash against Aaron Funk.
“I stayed focused throughout and capitalized on my opportunities,” said Djonov, a certified tennis coach of the German Tennis Federation DTB.
Thursday Results
Singles – Second Round
Justin Engel (GER) – Adrian Oetzbach (GER) 6:2, 6:3
Kai Wehnelt (GER) – Niklas Schell (GER) 6:3, 7:6 (2)
Christian Djonov (GER) – Sebastian Fanselow (GER) 7:6 (0), 6:3
Vincent Marysko (GER) – Kaichi Uchida (JPN) 6:2, 6:3
Max Wiskandt (GER) – Michal Krajci (SVK) 6:3, 6:2
Aaron Funk (GER) – Jonas Forejtek (CZE) 3:6, 6:4, 2:0, ret.
Moritz Hoffmann (GER) – Hamish Stewart (GBR) 3:6, 7:6 (4), 4:6
Evgeny Karlovskiy (RUS) – Matthew William Donald (CZE) 6:4, 7:5
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