AUGSBURG, August 26, 2026
Ideal tennis conditions welcomed players and spectators on Wednesday at the €56,700 Schwaben Open by Great2Stay at TC Augsburg, where the singles round of 16 and the remaining first-round doubles matches were played. Daniel Masur battled past fellow German Max Schoenhaus in a thrilling three-set encounter, while Hamburg’s Marvin Moeller and Berlin’s Benito Sanchez Martinez also secured their places in the quarterfinals of the ATP Challenger 50 clay-court event.
Masur prevails in German thriller
Few of the numerous spectators wanted to miss the highly anticipated all-German clash between four-time Schwaben Open participant Daniel Masur (ATP No. 392) and 19-year-old youngster Max Schoenhaus (ATP No. 317) on Centre Court. From the very beginning, the two players produced an intense and entertaining exchange.
Schoenhaus was the first to create opportunities, using his varied game to earn several break points before converting his fifth chance. Although 31-year-old Masur managed to fight his way back, he was unable to win a single point in the ensuing tie-break, which Schoenhaus wrapped up with an ace.
Masur, who practices at the TennisBase Oberhaching and is a former Davis Cup player, responded strongly in the second set. He created his first break opportunity in the third game and converted it to take control. Although Schoenhaus tested him once again while serving for the set, Masur held firm and levelled the match on his fifth set point.
The momentum continued to shift in the deciding set. Masur struck first with an early break, but Schönhaus refused to surrender and fought back to level the score. In the closing stages, however, Masur’s experience proved decisive. He earned the crucial break in the ninth game before serving out a 6-7 (0), 6-4, 6-4 victory after two hours and 22 minutes.
The 2024 semifinalist will face Argentina’s Facundo Mena in the quarterfinals. Mena eliminated German qualifier Kai Wehnelt 7-6(4), 7-5 in exactly two hours of play.
Speaking in his on-court interview, Masur said: “I was able to play against a fantastic young player today who has a very bright future ahead of him. With the hot conditions, which suit me very well, and the great support from the crowd, I was really able to enjoy the match and produce a very good level of tennis, which was enough to get me the win today.”
Moeller survives rollercoaster finish
Once again, the “Match of the Day” featured Hamburg’s Marvin Moeller (ATP No. 274), who faced third seed Matias Soto (ATP No. 261). Moeller made an excellent start, using his ability to move the Chilean around the court to build a 3-0 lead. He remained rock solid on serve, not allowing a single break point, and converted his first set point to take the opener.
Moeller continued to dictate play in the second set and converted his first break opportunity in the fifth game. After missing a chance for a double break, the German then had two match points at 5-4 on his own serve. Soto saved both, forcing the set into a tie-break.
The drama continued there. Moeller led 3-1 before Soto produced a run of five consecutive points, leaving the former world No. 9 junior facing three set points. But Moeller responded brilliantly, winning five points in a row himself before converting his third match point to seal a 6-3, 7-6 (8) victory after 96 minutes.
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The Hamburg native will meet fifth seed Cezar Cretu of Romania in the quarterfinals.
“I got off to a good start with the early break and was able to carry that advantage through to win the first set,” Moeller said afterwards. “I had the match under control in the second set as well, but towards the end I became a little more tense. I’m simply happy that I managed to finish it in two sets.”
Sanchez Martinez knocks out another clay-court specialist
After defeating Bolivian clay-court specialist Murkel Dellien, qualifier Benito Sanchez Martinez (ATP No. 1244) faced another player with a strong preference for the red clay in Argentina’s Juan Estevez (ATP No. 355).
Following solid service games from both players at the start, Sanchez Martinez gradually began to find his rhythm on return and converted his second break opportunity. He missed a set point on Estevez’s serve at 5-2 but closed out the opening set comfortably on his own serve.
The left-hander remained efficient in the second set, taking his first break opportunity in the fifth game and protecting his advantage. There was a brief scare when he served for the match, as Estevez created two consecutive break points, but the former college player saved both before sealing the 6-3, 6-4 victory with a service winner after 75 minutes.
Sanchez Martinez, last year’s doubles champion, has now matched his quarterfinal appearance from last year. He will face sixth seed Hynek Barton of the Czech Republic, who advanced with a 1-6, 7-5, 6-2 comeback victory over Juan Manuel La Serna of Argentina.
“Today was definitely much more comfortable for me than yesterday because the balls bounce higher and fly faster in these hot conditions,” Sanchez Martinez said. “My opponent came up with some unexpected shots at times that I’m not used to, but I was able to adjust well. I’m really happy that I managed to overcome this challenge.”
Krumich keeps TCA hopes alive
Martin Krumich (ATP No. 262) also showed tremendous fighting spirit. The Czech represents TC Augsburg in the German Tennis Bundesliga and played a major role in the club’s return to the top flight last year.
Despite feeling unwell and dropping the opening set against Russian qualifier Svyatoslav Gulin (ATP No. 621), Krumich gradually turned the match around. He took increasing control and eventually completed a 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 comeback after two hours and 48 minutes.
The second seed will meet eighth-seeded Austrian Sandro Kopp (ATP No. 292) in the quarterfinals. Kopp defeated Swiss qualifier Mika Brunold (ATP No. 424) 7-6(3), 6-4 in one hour and 53 minutes.
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