BAD SALZDETFURTH, October 30, 2016

Battling through the qualification, becoming the tournament’s top seed and eventually clinch the title. That’s the story of Christopher Heyman, who lifted the trophy of the 10th edition of the $10,000 NTV-ITF Future in Bad Salzdetfurth.

The 23-year-old Belgian defeated second seed Andrej Kapas from Poland 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 in Sunday’s final. Heyman, who didn’t enter the tournament in time and therefore had to qualify for the main draw, sent down six aces and converted three of his five break point chances to seal victory in two hours and six minutes. It was the seventh match, the leftie had to play en-route to the title.

“I am exhausted but happy,” Heyman told afterwards. “I was not happy the last week and just wanted to play a couple of matches.” That it ended with his fifth title on the ITF Pro Circuit this year is obviously the best he could get, besides the $1,310 in prize money and the 18 ATP ranking points.

With Andreas Mies and Oscar Otte, two Germans claimed the doubles title on Friday. They fought past their countrymen Marvin Moeller and Tim Ruehl, winning 6-7, 6-4, 10-7 in one hour and 39 minutes.

“The tournament went very well and is always important to us,” Michael Wenkel, the managing director of the tennis asscociation in Lower Saxony told. He also thanked all the partner and sponsors.