Louis Wessels has reached the main draw at an ATP tournament by own strength for the first time. By winning 6:3, 3:6, 6:3 against Henri Squire (ATP 316) from Duisburg, the Bielefeld-born player, who lives in Detmold, is in the first round at the 30. TERRA WORTMANN OPEN. ”That is a wonderful success, perhaps the biggest in my career“, 24 year-old Wessel explained. “I was in the main draw once before in Hamburg 2016, but thanks to a wild card. Playing here, in my neighbourhood so to speak, to a full house, that is really something. It was a great match of mine, also yesterday“. Wessels had defeated Chinese player Zhizhen Zhang, notably the world’s no. 56, clearly in two sets in the first qualifying round on Saturday. “It has always been my dream to play in the main draw here. Now I’ve made it. I am proud“.
It was hard work, though, until the local hero, who currently stands at no. 344 in the rankings, won. Wessels had considerably more problems to get his service through than his opponent in the first round. But Squire, who played much too wildly and uneasily over much of the duration of the match, was broken at a score in favour of Wessels 4:2, the man from Bielefeld brought the first round home 6:3. Set two went 6:3 to Squire, who at times was able to rely on his service and his forehand.
Then the shock. Wessels slipped to a ball, stopped suddenly with his leg stretched and felt a pain in the second round of the third set. “Overall, it shot into the back of my right thigh”, Wessels said. But he managed a break in that round and got his service through 3:0, before taking a medical time-out. This seemed to help. Wessels brought his service home, even though only able to convert his fifth match point bringing it to 6:3. And, will the injury have influence on the first round? “No, I would even play with a broken leg“, Wessels said, who is full of self-confidence and lots of happy feelings for the week. Next opponent: Yannick Hanfmann.
Daniel Altmaier initially had missed going through to the main draw at the 30. TERRA WORTMANN OPEN. The world’s no. 59 had to give up to the 27 year-old US-American Christoper Eubanks (ATP 75) in the qualifying finals due to suffering a hip injury. Altmaier missed a number of chances in the first round – and experienced a big shock moment. At 1:1 the 24 year-old slipped and lay on the ground holding his hip in pain. He was able to play on but then took a medical time out in the next break. After a short treatment the match commenced. What also caused some pain was that Altmaier’s slip up he wasn’t able to use three break points in a row, Eubbanks on the other hand was on the spot and broke the German to make it 4:2. The US-Amercan then got his service through and won the first set 6:3. Altmaier was again treated after the end of the set, tried again though. He finally gave up when leading 3:2 and Eubanks serving in the second round.
But the story has come to a happy end; as Canadian player Felix Auger-Aliassime cannot participate due to an injury on Monday, there is a place free for a lucky loser. And it went to: Daniel Altmaier. Who will now play against Roberto Bautista Agut. The tournament physician was called to confirm the injury because Altmaier has given up in the qualifying due to the injury. According to the regulations Altmaier can nevertheless start in the main draw if he gets a green light for the first round.
Also through to the main draw Marcos Giron (USA), who won against Italian Andrea Vavassori , 7:6, 1:6 and 6:1.
