HAMBURG, July 30, 2017
While the ATP stars are competing in the German Tennis Championships, a couple of Germany’s best youngsters were also in action in Hamburg throughout the week. On Saturday afternoon, 16-year-old Bastien Presuhn emerged victorious in the 2017 German Open Junior Trophy.
The World No. 291 in the junior’s ranking defeated his Hannover teammate Fynn Kuenkler 7-5, 6-3 in the final held on centre court at the Rothenbaum venue. Presuhn, who knocked out top seed Osman Torski en-route to title, won 54 per cent of the total points played to secure victory in one hour and 34 minutes.
Bastien Presuhn and Fynn Kuenkler
“We practice a lot together and it was the third time in only a short period of time that we faced each other. I managed to win the previous encounters as well and that gave me confidence for the final today. I am very happy,” Presuhn told Tennis TourTalk after lifting the trophy.
“Playing here on centre court was unbelievable. I have never played in front of so many spectators. The atmosphere was great. I also had the chance to practice with some of the pros here during the week. I played with Karen Khachanov and both Mayers. This gives you even more motivation to step on the court.”
Presuhn will play Junior’s Davis Cup for Germany next week in London before he will move on to Hungary competing in two Grade 2 ITF events. “I would like to qualify for the Australian Open. That’s my big goal.”
With a height of 195 cm, Presuhn considers John Isner as his tennis idol. “My coach knows him very well and I seem to have a pretty similar game. I admire his serve as well as his ground strokes. I hope that I will have the chance to practice with him in the United States later this year. That’d be fantastic.”
