KITZBÜHEL, July 29, 2017

Tennis action at the Generali Open kicked off on a sunny Saturday in Kitzbühel with the first round of the qualifying. #NextGenATP player Stefanos Tsitsipas advanced with a 6-3, 7-6 win over Mohamed Safwat of Egypt.

The 18-year-old from Greece won 82 per cent of his first service points and broke serve twice to seal victory in one hour and 24 minutes. Tsitsipas will next take on Miljan Zekic, who knocked out the top seed of the qualifying Alessandro Giannessi from Italy. The 29-year-old Serbian rallied back from a set down 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 in just under two hours of play.

Austrian wild card entries Lenny Hampel and Jurij Rodionov were without any chance. 20-year-old Hampl fell to World No. 99 Santiago Giraldo of Colombia 6-1, 6-2. Teenager Rodionov lost to Germany’s Maximilian Marterer 7-6, 6-1.

Michael Linzer remains the last local standing the qualifying draw. The 27-year-old upset third seed Jerzy Janowicz of Poland 6-1, 6-4. Linzer saved all four break points he faced, converting three of his own to finish the encounter after 68 minutes.

“The match was okay today but I have got some more left in the tank,” Linzer is looking forward to his encounter against Marterer for a spot in the main draw.

Photo Gallery Q-Day 1 (by Brigitte Urban)