AUGSBURG, August 11, 2019
Yannick Hanfmann is the champion of the inaugural Schwaben Open in Augsburg. The 27-year-old German saved three match points to overcome Finnish young gun Emil Ruusuvuori 2-6, 6-4, 7-5.
Blue sky, a lot of sunshine and a packed crowd created a great atmosphere for the final day at the Tennis Club Augsburg. Hanfmann sent down six aces and won 67 per cent of his first-service points to prevail after two hours and nine minutes.
Champion in Augsburg! @YannickHanfmann saves 3 match points to overcome Emil Ruusuvuori 2-6, 6-4, 7-5. Fifth @ATPChallenger title for the German, his fourth on home soil. pic.twitter.com/Rt6hxubKep
— Florian Heer (@Florian_Heer) August 11, 2019
“It was really close today,” Hanfmann told Tennis TourTalk. “Emil is a great player with a bright future ahead. I am looking forward to many more matches to come. Maybe I stayed more calm, but the match could have gone either way. I am really happy.”
Following his triumphs in Ismaning 2017, Braunschweig 2018 and Ludwigshafen earlier this season, the Karlsruhe native celebrated his fourth ATP Challenger crown on home soil. “I really enjoy playing in front of my home crowd. It can give you some extra boost in the decisive moments.”
By lifting his fifth trophy on the ATP Challenger Tour, Hanfmann earned €6,190 in prize money as well as 80 ATP-Ranking points. He will next travel to North American competing in the qualifying of the US Open.
Despite finishing runner-up, the name Ruusuvuori is one to remember. The 20-year-old Helsinki native claimed his maiden Challenger title in Fergana, Uzbekistan in June and kept up his good run of form in Augsburg this week.
“This has been my best tournament on clay so far,” Ruusuvuori said. “My confidence is growing and I hope to further climb up the rankings.” The #NextGenATP player will be ranked World No. 209 on Monday, a new career high.
Vasilevski/Zelenay clinch first team title
Andrei Vasilevski of Belarus and Igor Zelenay from Slovakia took the doubles title. The top seeds fought past Croatian twin brothers Ivan and Matej Sabanov 4-6, 6-4, 10-3. The final lasted one hour and 16 minutes.
“Our opponents played a great first set but we just kept fighting and tried to change something. It worked out in the end,” Zelenay told Tennis TourTalk. Both players teamed up for the only second time and seem to feel comfortable during this week in Swabia.
“Augsburg is a beautiful city,” Vasilevski said. “The organization is pretty well and people were really nice.”
Zelenay, who clinched his third ATP Challenger title of the season, will next play at the Slovenia Open in Portoroz. “I don’t have a regular partner anymore. My priority is to play on the ATP Tour and Grand Slams now, which is tough to get in.”
After lifting his fifth trophy in 2019, Vasilevski will enjoy a bit of rest at home. “I just will just try to continue doing my job, to work hard and not forcing the results.”
Watch match point here.
A look ahead
The tournament will return to Augsburg in 2020. “We are very pleased to have found a new home here,” organizer Alessandra Trenkle confirmed. “We receive broad support from the club and look forward to the upcoming editions.”
