Christoph Negritu became a permanent player.Image: www.imago-images.de
Christoph Negritu played almost an entire tennis tournament in a single day. How the German professional’s monster program came about and what he thought of it.
24.12.2023, 13:5424.12.2023, 15:20
follow me
Shortly before Christmas, recreational players are at most stressed about presents and the best tennis players in the world have long been preparing for the new season. For some professionals, December is also a time to score points for the world rankings and earn a living.
The ITF tournament in Monastir was such an occasion for the second, third or fourth guard of tennis professionals. Because of its extraordinary schedule, the tournament made headlines beyond Tunisia.
Rain doesn’t allow tennis
Of course that wasn’t planned. But the weather was so bad that games constantly had to be postponed because of rain. Christoph Negritu won his round of 16 on a Thursday before he had to be patient. There was no play on Friday, almost no play on Saturday, and there was nothing in Monastir on Sunday, when the final was scheduled for.
But should the tournament really end without a winner? Those responsible were hoping for Monday – and the weather actually cooperated. Negritu, a 29-year-old German, became a permanent player.
Let’s get started
First he had to finish his quarter-final, which was canceled on Saturday. Negritu won it – and things continued soon after. “I just stayed on the court and waited for the next opponent,” he told tennisnet.com.
Negritu moved into the final with a three-set win over the American Michael Zhu. “Then I noticed that I was a bit exhausted,” he said about his third game of the day. He lost it against the top seeded Omni Kumar (ATP 361) from the USA 1:6, 1:6.
But Christoph Negritu’s long day of tennis was far from over. Now the stakes in the doubles competition awaited. The organizers asked him if he still wanted to compete. «I said I had time and we have floodlights. Let’s start! It’s about points and prize money, of course you keep playing,” said number 677 in the ATP world rankings. It was clear to him: “You have to push through it.”
“Someone has to imitate me first.”
He was served energy-rich dates and in between he ordered a cappuccino on the court. And so Negritu competed three more times with Zhu at his side. After victories in the quarter and semi-finals, the heat was off in the final. “At some point I got through it and said to myself, that’s enough now. Also because it started to rain again.” The duo gave up when the score was 2:6, 1:2.
The reward was eight points for the world rankings and prize money of 1,650 euros. And possibly an entry in the history books. At tennisnet.com, Christoph Negritu says with a smile: “Six matches in one day, someone has to imitate me first.”
The best pictures from the US Open 2023
1 / 36
The best pictures from the US Open 2023
Carlos Alcaraz is not happy that he just made a mistake.
quelle: keystone / justin lane
Roger Federer cries on stage with Andrea Bocelli
Video: watson
This might also interest you:
There is snow in the mountains and the Christmas holidays are just around the corner. Many Swiss are heading to the ski slopes these days. But how well do you actually know the ski resorts in this country? In this quiz you will find out.
2023-12-24 12:54:27
#Tennis #professional #Christoph #Negritu #plays #games #day
