HAMBURG, October 18, 2022

Julian Lenz headlined Tuesday’s first-round action at the Hamburg Ladies & Gents Cup ATP Challenger by knocking out the tournament’s No. 3 seed Dennis Novak from Austria 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(3).

The 342nd-ranked qualifier from Germany struck 11 aces and won 69 per cent of his first-service points to advance in two hours and four minutes.

“I’ve known him for a very long time, we’re the same age group, we grew up together in the youth. I don’t think we’ve ever played each other, but I knew he is a very dangerous player. I needed to play my best – my serve and forehand – and that worked very well from the second set on,” said Lenz

The Gießen native, a winner of three titles on the ITF Pro Circuit, will next take on Russian qualifier Evgeny Donskoy, who beat Frenchman Harold Mayot 6-3, 6-3 in 71 minutes.

Local wild card entry Marko Topo also secured his spot in the second round of the €45,730 hard-court event hosted by the Hamburg Tennis Association. The 19-year-old Gräfelfing native also came back from a set down to outlast his compatriot and qualifier Jeremy Jahn 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. Topo won one point more than his opponent to secure victory in one hour and 52 minutes.

Up next for Topo will be French qualifier Matteo Martineau, who upset No. 6 seed and 2018 Future Nord champion in Hamburg, Altug Celikbilek of Turkey, 2-6, 7-6(4), 7-6(5) in two hours and 18 minutes.

In other action, Czech youngster Andrew Paulson eased past Joao Domingues of Portugal 6-3, 6-1. The 20-year-old, who battled through the qualifying, won 62 per cent of the total points played to advance in only 57 minutes. Paulson will next challenge fourth-seeded Swiss Alexander Ritschard.