Altmaier thrills the fans on the Schauinsland-Reisen court

A brilliant atmosphere, fantastic weather, a thrilling match – the clash between former Halle champion Hubert Hurkacz (2022 winner, 2024 finalist) and Daniel Altmaier on the packed schauinsland-reisen Court was the best possible advertisement for tennis. It was the German who came out on top: after two hours and one minute, Altmaier threw his arms aloft, as did many of the 3,500 fans. With a score of 3–6, 6–3 and 7–5, the man from Kempen on the Lower Rhine defeated the Pole and has now reached the quarter-finals of the TERRA WORTMANN OPEN for the first time.

“It was a great atmosphere. Sure, the court is rather small, but I’d say today’s match was almost worthy of Centre Court – at least the way it unfolded. I’m very happy with how it turned out in the end,” said Daniel Altmaier, delighted with his triumph. And what was the key to victory? “I think it was that I just kept going. I lost the first set, but I knew I’d get my chances. If he’d played like he did in the first set and seen the match through, then I’d simply have had to say: he was the better player today. That’s why I tried not to think too far ahead and to stay focused on my own game. In the end, it paid off,” said Altmaier, who is ranked 81st in the ATP world rankings.

In the decisive third set, Altmaier took the initiative and increasingly forced his opponent onto the defensive. The German converted his sixth break point to make it 6–5, and the 27-year-old didn’t put a foot wrong on his own serve. Much to the delight of his new coach, Dustin Brown, who is coaching Altmaier during the grass-court season.

For wildcard entrant Altmaier (ATP 81), who had won his very first match in Halle (a victory over Nikoloz Basilashvili) in the first round of the 33rd TERRA WORTMANN OPEN, the tournament continues in both the singles and doubles competitions. On Thursday, he’ll play doubles alongside Joao Fonseca against Sadio Doumbia and Marc Polmans (1 pm on the schauinsland-reisen Court). And on Friday, the singles quarter-final is on the cards – this time, truly on Centre Court.