Talents at the HTV Junior Open in Offenbach

Dhe present in German men’s tennis is called Alexander Zverev. Behind: nothing for a long time. The 2021 Olympic champion is the flagship of the German Tennis Association (DTB), he is the only German among the top 50 in the world. And the next generation? It’s still a long time coming.

“We know our situation,” said national coach Michael Kohlmann of the FAZ. In the age group of 18 to 20-year-olds, one is “unfortunately far behind in relation to the other nations.” But the Davis Cup captain draws hope: “Like what we are positioned, we will perform better and stronger in the years to come.”

“Don’t give up too soon”

The reason for Kohlmann’s optimism is young and this week it will be at the International HTV Junior Open in the Hessian State Training Center on the Offenbacher Rosenhöhe: since Tuesday, twelve DTB talents have been playing in the main draw of the top-class junior tournament for a place in the final; eight of them via wildcards from the organizer: “We have very good players in the 2007 and 2008 vintages,” says Kohlmann about his youth squad.

According to Philipp Petzschner, Wimbledon winner in doubles in 2010 and youth national coach, the men included Diego Dedura-Palomera, Europe’s “Junior Tour Player of the year U14”, Max Schönhaus and Justin Engel, who a year and a half ago in the final of the Junior Masters in Monte Carlo, Max Stenzer, who became European U-16 champion in doubles with Schönhaus in 2022, or Tom Sickenberger. “There are a few that you can and should watch out for,” says Petzschner.

The DTB vintage 2005 is also promisingly represented in Offenbach by David Fix, Lasse Pörtner and Marc Majdandzic. The Pforzheimer Fix prevailed in the first round on Tuesday 6:2 and 6:4 against his American opponent Cooper Woestendick, his DTB colleague Pförtner won against the Uzbek Amir Milushev (6:2, 6:2). From the Hessian point of view, the greatest hope, Vincent Marysko, had already failed in qualifying for the main draw on Sunday.

Despite all confidence: A German winner is not to be expected at the Rosenhöhe in Offenbach on Sunday. The tournament is an international star at junior level – and the stars of tomorrow have arrived: nine players from the top 20 of the junior world rankings are taking part. “The field is better filled than ever before,” says organizer Jörg Barthel from HTV about the tournament, of which there are only eight other categories worldwide. 500 points for the ITF account, that’s all you can win in Wimbledon or Paris. Stars like Félix Auger-Aliassime, Andrej Rubljew, Stefanos Tsitsipas or Jannik Sinner have played at the Rosenhöhe in Offenbach in the past.

Young national coach Petzschner has identified a structural reason for the dreary tennis present: “In other countries everything is put on one card at an early stage.” In Germany, on the other hand, the dual path of school and competitive sport is taken. “Most of them do their Abitur.” In this way, the competition from the Czech Republic, France or Bulgaria can gather more tournament experience and training hours at an early stage.

Kohlmann takes the same line: “Perhaps competitive sport no longer has this reputation, safety is an important issue.” In addition, the financial possibilities in this country are not comparable to those of the Grand Slam nations France, USA, Australia and Great Britain.

Kohlmann doesn’t want to be elicited a pointer to the next Zverev: “We have a lot of interesting guys who have potential, but that’s unnecessary pressure and unfair.” Petzschner adds: “I always say to the players: ‘It’s not a sprint , but a marathon’”. The average age of the top 100 players in the world is 26 years. For the around 16-year-old offspring, this means: “You now have ten years, don’t give up too early.” Players like Federer or Zverev cannot be forced, believes the young national coach: “They happen, and then it’s wonderful .”