BAD RAPPENAU, June 2, 2026
The second day of the Neckarcup 2026 presented players and organizers with a demanding schedule, as no fewer than 18 matches were on the order of play. The packed schedule was partly the result of weather interruptions on the opening day, forcing several players to take to the court twice on Monday in order to complete the qualifying competition.
For most of the German hopefuls in qualifying, it proved to be a difficult day. David Fix, Jeremy Schifris, Florian Broska, Tim Handel, Adrian Oetzbach and Lasse Poertner all bowed out. However, Max Wiskandt and Marvin Moeller successfully battled their way into the main draw.
Wiskandt needed almost two and a half hours and every bit of his fighting spirit to overcome Ukraine’s Georgii Kravchenko 6-3, 3-6, 7-6. Moeller, meanwhile, delivered one of the standout performances of the day, defeating Swiss left-hander Dominic Stricker 7-6, 6-2 in an entertaining encounter to secure his place in the main draw.
The challenges of qualifying were also felt by second seed Sumit Nagal. The 2024 Neckarcup champion was edged out by Argentina’s Mariano Kestelboim 2-6, 6-1, 7-6. However, Kestelboim was unable to continue his campaign after exhausting himself in the contest and later withdrew from his second match against Spain’s Alex Marti Pujolras.
Colombian Daniel Elahi Galan looked in excellent form, easing past Australia’s Marc Polmans 6-3, 6-2 to advance comfortably into the main draw.
In the main draw, Russia’s Pavel Kotov and Dutchman Guy den Ouden produced one of the day’s most notable results. Den Ouden, last year’s finalist in Bad Rappenau, completely neutralized Kotov’s game and stormed to a convincing 6-2, 6-1 victory. Fourth seed Pedro Martinez also impressed, defeating Portugal’s Frederico Ferreira Silva 6-2, 7-5.
Germany’s Marko Topo showed tremendous resilience in his opening-round match against experienced Italian Lorenzo Giustino. After dropping the first set, the 22-year-old fought back to claim a 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory after one hour and 46 minutes. Topo will now face second-seeded US-American Emilio Nava in the next round.
Welcome to the second round of the NECKARCUP! 🎾
No. 2 seed Emilio Nava 🇺🇲 defeats Max Houkes 🇳🇱 6-4 7-6 in the final match of the day! #ATPChallenger #NECKARCUP pic.twitter.com/uSb1aPry6a
— NECKARCUP 2.0 (@NeckarH) June 1, 2026
MONDAY RESULTS
Singles – Round of 32
[2] Emilio Nava (USA) d Max Houkes (NED) 64 76(3)
[4] Pedro Martinez (ESP) d Frederico Ferreira Silva (POR) 62 75
Matej Dodig (CRO) d [6] Joel Schwaerzler (AUT) 64 26 64
Guy Den Ouden (NED) d Pavel Kotov 62 61
Marko Topo (GER) d Lorenzo Giustino (ITA) 26 62 64
Qualifying Singles – Qualifying Round 1
[1] Daniel Elahi Galan (COL) d [Alt] Tim Handel (GER) 64 61
[Alt] Mariano Kestelboim (ARG) d [2] Sumit Nagal (IND) 62 16 76(3)
[5] Dominic Stricker (SUI) d Adrian Oetzbach (GER) 76(5) 63
[7] Marc Polmans (AUS) d [WC] Jeremy Schifris (GER) 62 63
[WC] Lasse Poertner (GER) d [8] Florian Broska (GER) 64 64
[12] Alex Marti Pujolras (ESP) d [WC] David Fix (GER) 76(2) 62
Qualifying Singles – Qualifying Round 2
[1] Daniel Elahi Galan (COL) d [7] Marc Polmans (AUS) 63 62
[3] Abdullah Shelbayh (JOR) d [10] Raphael Perot (FRA) 64 75
[9] Marvin Moeller (GER) d [5] Dominic Stricker (SUI) 76(9) 62
[12] Alex Marti Pujolras (ESP) d [Alt] Mariano Kestelboim (ARG) Walkover
[Alt] Max Wiskandt (GER) d Georgii Kravchenko (UKR) 63 36 76(1)
Sander Jong (NED) d [WC] Lasse Poertner (GER) 63 75
