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French Open: “Never forget”: Cheering night in Paris for Hanfmann

French Open
“Never forget”: Cheering night in Paris for Hanfmann

Successfully fought his way through a five-set match: Yannick Hanfmann. photo

© Fabrizio Corradetti/AP/dpa

Yannick Hanfmann does without his hearing aid on the pitch. The hard-of-hearing tennis pro doesn’t want to overwhelm “his system”. He is loudly celebrated at the French Open.

Yannick Hanfmann watched the German tennis party at the French Open shortly before midnight in disbelief. The fans celebrated the 31-year-old in the stands with songs, for minutes he took selfies with the supporters and gave away souvenirs.

“I will never forget this day,” said Hanfmann early Wednesday morning in Paris. A highlight in the career of the Karlsruher with the extraordinary story.

“Have tried playing with a hearing aid”

Hanfmann has been hard of hearing since birth, but in contrast to his life away from tennis, he does not use a hearing aid on the court. “That would have been too much,” explained the man from Karlsruhe after the five-set thriller against Brazilian Thiago Monteiro.

“I once tried playing with a hearing aid. But at some point the system is so overwhelmed by what’s going on. I wouldn’t be able to play for five hours.”

In his youth, Hanfmann still played football at Karlsruher SC. However, his hearing impairment prevented a career, he once said in an interview with a hearing aid manufacturer.

“At some point I stopped hearing my teammates and the coaches’ commands. It’s completely different in tennis – here I see my opponents. That simplifies the whole thing.” On the pitch it was “rather positive because I don’t hear everything that’s being said and shouted in the stands”.

“Think I’m Riding A Small Wave”

In the shadow of the Suzanne-Lenglen court, the cheering for Hanfmann echoed loudly over the Stade Roland Garros late in the evening. The world number 65 ranked in 4:56 hours. defeated his opponent 6:3, 7:5, 6:7 (6:8), 6:7 (2:7), 6:4 and only reached the second round of a Grand Slam tournament for the second time.

Shortly before the clay court classic in Paris, the world number 65. already caused a stir with reaching the quarter-finals of the Masters tournament in Rome and two victories against professionals from the top ten. “I think I’m riding a small wave,” he said. “I hope to ride her as far as possible.”

Actually, Hanfmann had already failed in qualifying at the French Open, but moved into the main field as a so-called lucky loser due to the cancellation of an opponent. Now his greatest success at a Grand Slam could follow against the Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo, who was seeded in 23rd position.

Hanfmann spent the first time preparing for the season in the country of the next opponent. A step away from home to tease out something new with a new coach after a weaker year and setbacks due to illness.

“He’s gotten a lot better physically”

“Hard work and discipline is required,” said Daniel Altmaier, who also built a team in Argentina and is also in the second round of the French Open. “I think you can see that now in Yannick’s game, which has developed a lot forwards. He’s gotten a lot better physically and he notices that too.”

With this level of fitness, Hanfmann wants to be ready again for a possible extra shift on Thursday. Against Monteiro, Hanfmann celebrated the first five-set win of his career. “I dreamed about it so much that I wanted to live through it,” he enthused. “Something like that is just damn difficult. It gives you so much self-confidence.”

dpa

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