HAMBURG, July 22, 2019

Rudolf Molleker, who entered the main draw of the Hamburg European Open with a wild card, knocked out two-time Rothenbaum champion Leonardo Mayer of Argentina in the evening session. The 18-year-old German won 7-6(8), 6-4 in one hour and 39 minutes.

It was Molleker’s second win against Mayer in as many meetings between the two. The 32-year-old Argentine lifted the trophy here in 2017 as a lucky loser, and the player who beat him in qualifying that year was Molleker.

“Obviously I was a bit nervous. Coming back to Hamburg is always a pleasure for me,” Molleker said afterwards. “I knew that I beat him here two years ago. It was a special day for me. All started in Hamburg and coming back to beat him again is something special.”

When Molleker was asked why he missed playing Wimbledon this season, the teenager said: “I was driving to Poznan Challenger and arrived there a couple of minutes after the Wimbledon entry deadline. I was just too late. I messed it up and cannot change it anymore. Hopefully I can play there next year.”

Up next for Molleker in Hamburg will be either No. 3 seed Fabio Fognini of Italy or German qualifier Julian Lenz.

After his first-round win at @hamburgopen Rudolf Molleker 🇩🇪 announced that he will join forces with @DTB_Tennis coach Jan Velthuis again. Start of the partnership will be during the Schwaben Open in Augsburg next month.

— Florian Heer (@Florian_Heer) July 22, 2019

Rublev, Chardy advance to second round

Over on Court M1, Andrey Rublev defeated Cristian Garin of Chile 6-4, 7-6(5) in one hour and 39 minutes. The 21-year-old Russian will next face either #NextGenATP Norwegian Casper Ruud or Dutchman Robin Haase.

Jeremy Chardy defeated fellow Frenchman and No. 5 seed Benoit Paire in their first-ever meeting 6-7(4), 7-5, 6-3 and will oppose the winner of the match between Indian qualifier Sumit Nagal and Richard Gasquet of France. The longest fight of the day lasted two hours and 34 minutes.