At the combined tennis tournament for women and men at Rothenbaum in Hamburg, top favorite Carlos Alcaraz only made it through to the round of 16 with a lot of effort. Last year’s finalist Andrea Petkovic is the only German in the quarterfinals.
The tournament ambassador beat Japan’s Misako Doi 6-4, 6-3. “It was definitely warm, heated, metaphorical and on the pitch,” said the Darmstadt native, who was beaming after her next win and feels ready for more great deeds despite a damaged elbow on her right arm. “Over 30 you have to accept certain pains in life,” she said with a smile.
Jule Niemeier (Dortmund) had previously lost her opening match against Joanne Züger from Switzerland 4:6, 6:0, 4:6. Sabine Lisicki, who wants to fight her way back to the top level after her long break, also had to accept defeat. The 32-year-old former Wimbledon finalist from Berlin lost to Serbian Aleksandra Krunic at 34 degrees in the shade after a shaky performance 4: 6, 2: 6. “I’ll keep fighting,” Lisicki said afterwards.
Defending champion Elena-Gabriela Ruse also had to accept an early exit. The Romanian lost to Bernarda Pera (USA) 0-6, 4-6.
Top favorite Alcaraz with a lot of effort
For the men, top favorite Alcaraz had a lot more trouble than expected with Nicola Kuhn from Ludwigshafen. The Spanish world number six only won after three sets with 3: 6, 6: 1, 7: 6 (7: 3).
Kuhn, who used to start for Spain, showed a brave and strong performance for a long time. In the third set he had his right thigh treated several times, could only walk with difficulty and then had no chance in the final tie-break.
Last German out: Altmeier loses
In the evening, Daniel Altmeier (Kempen) was the last German to leave the tournament. He lost his opening match against Argentinian Franisco Cerundolo 6:2, 4:6, 2:6.
Carreno Busta and Fognini on
His compatriot Diego Schwartzman, on the other hand, was eliminated. The 29-year-old, seeded number three, lost to Finn Emil Ruusuvuori 5:7, 4:6. Borna Coric has reached the round of 16: The Croatian defeated the Serb Laslo Đere 1: 6, 7: 6 (7: 4), 6: 3. Last year’s winner Pablo Carreno Busta (Spain) and Fabio Fognini, who triumphed in 2013, also cleared their opening hurdles.
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Hamburg Journal | 07/19/2022 | 19:30 o’clock
