When Oscar Otte (ATP 474) stood in the lobby of the COURT HOTEL on Sunday evening and didn't yet know who his first round opponent at the 31st TERRA WORTMANN OPEN would be, he actually had one urgent wish: "It doesn't have to be Sascha now." But a few minutes later, the qualifiers were drawn into the main draw - and exactly what was not supposed to happen, happened: Otte, the capable qualifier, caught his German compatriot, Olympic champion and French Open finalist Alexander Zverev (ATP 4), as his opening opponent. "What can you do? You have to take it as it comes," said the young man from Cologne and was determined: "I'll give it my all and try to make the most of my chance."
However, Otte had already achieved a remarkable stage victory before the first rallies against the world number four - namely a place in the main draw at what he himself describes as the "biggest tournament in Germany": "I marched through qualifying really well. That was anything but a matter of course. I came to Halle without any great expectations." In fact, the 30-year-old professional had recently been forced to become a casual labourer - new injuries forced Otte to take more and more breaks.
The likeable sports fan was a frequent guest at doctors' surgeries and rehabilitation centres rather than on the tour courts. In 2023, after slipping up in a match against Dominik Koepfer at Wimbledon, he underwent another knee operation, as he did in 2022. "It was often frustrating", he says. "But I'm not one to give up, to hang my head."
Through all the chaos, Otte found strength in his personal happiness with the birth of his daughter Mathilda just under a year ago: "That helped me get over some disappointment and anger." Now Otte wants to start a new comeback mission, also with a more targeted, different training focus: "Pure tennis is not the main focus. It's all about fitness and physical training." Recently, he has also taken more time to return to work and has carefully measured out his training sessions.
Of course, his guest appearance at the TERRA WORTMANN OPEN brings back memories of 2022, of the crazy tournament days that only ended with a semi-final defeat to world number one Daniil Medvedev. "Halle was almost a home match for me. Nowhere else are so many of my family, friends and acquaintances at the start when I play. It's a completely different feeling," says Otte. "The crowd supported me - and I also gave a lot back."
Otte even returned to HalleWestphalia after his semi-final exit and his coach Peter Moraing told him that ZDF wanted him to commentate on the final on Sunday. "I was already on the motorway on my way home. But I thought: why not?" Otte later travelled from Halle to Wimbledon practically as the German number one, with an all-time high of 36th place in the rankings - Alexander Zverev had previously suffered a serious injury at the French Open.
Now, on the two qualifying days for the 31st TERRA WORTMANN OPEN, he felt "comfortable again for the first time in a long time" on the court, says Otte: "I was in a good rhythm and had the necessary self-confidence." The feeling after the second victory, securing his place in the main draw, was "absolutely liberating". He had to say a "huge thank you" to tournament director Ralf Weber for the qualifying wildcard, but also for his support last year, when Otte received a wildcard for the main draw.
Despite all the difficulties and obstacles, Otte is optimistic about the future - he is someone for whom the glass is half full and not half empty. "I'll be 31 soon, but I still have a few good years ahead of me. And when it's over, I'll always look back on my time in tennis with satisfaction." And also to his performances in HalleWestfalen.
