Engel claims upset win in first professional match on grass in Stuttgart
German teen Justin Engel had never played a professional tennis match on grass but on Tuesday he showed he could be a force to reckon with at the Stuttgart Open when he overcame Australian James Duckworth, who sits 187 rungs above him in the rankings.
Engel, ranked 281 in the world, arrived at the tournament having played only five matches on the ATP Tour, with the 17-year-old a regular on the Challenger Tour where he has played on clay and hardcourts.
After slowly coming to grips with the green surface, Engel forced a decider but found himself a break down and even needed treatment for dizziness before triumphing 4-6 6-4 7-6(5) in nearly 2-1/2 hours.
When Duckworth's return on match point found the net, the Australian nearly smashed his racket but controlled himself while a relieved Engel sank to the grass in disbelief before throwing his cap into the air in delight.
"I'm really proud of myself, it was my first grass match," said Engel, who fired 32 winners past Duckworth.
"I know this match was tough and I'm pretty happy with this result. I can't wait to play the next round."
American 19-year-old Learner Tien also advanced from his first match on grass but only after his opponent Yoshihito Nishioka retired when Tien had levelled the match at one set apiece.
Meanwhile, Arthur Rinderknech led a bevy of Frenchmen into the second round when he upset fifth seed Denis Shapovalov 6-4 2-6 6-0.
Rinderknech has not had the best of starts this season with only four wins and 14 losses heading into his first grasscourt tournament.
His compatriots Corentin Moutet and Quentin Halys also went the distance in their respective matches to come out on top against a pair of Italians.
While Moutet beat Italian wildcard Fabio Fognini 6-4 6-7(3) 6-3, Halys came from behind to get the better of Lorenzo Sonego with a 6-7(6) 7-5 6-4 victory.
However, 38-year-old Frenchman Gael Monfils was knocked out when American seventh seed Alex Michelsen won 6-4 4-6 6-3.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
5 hours ago
- CNA
Liverpool shatter club transfer record to sign Germany midfielder Wirtz
Liverpool have signed Germany's Florian Wirtz from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen, the Premier League champions said on Friday, as they smashed their transfer record to seal a deal for the attacking midfielder. Leverkusen will receive a guaranteed amount of 100 million pounds ($134.64 million) and a further maximum of 16 million pounds in potential bonuses. That makes the 22-year-old Liverpool's most-expensive signing ever, ahead of Netherlands centre back and captain Virgil van Dijk who joined for 75 million pounds in 2017. Wirtz, who signed a five-year contract, also becomes the fifth 100 million pound plus signing in Premier League history, joining Chelsea midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, Arsenal's Declan Rice and Manchester City winger Jack Grealish. "I feel very happy and very proud. Finally it's done and I was waiting for a long time – finally it's done and I am really happy," Wirtz said in a statement. "I'm really excited to have a new adventure in front of me. This was also a big point of my thoughts: that I want to have something completely new, to go out of the Bundesliga and to join the Premier League." With two years left on his Leverkusen contract, Wirtz was also heavily linked with a move to German champions Bayern Munich and Pep Guardiola's City, who were looking to replace Kevin De Bruyne after the Belgian playmaker's exit. Wirtz was instrumental at Leverkusen, leading them to an undefeated domestic league and Cup double in the 2023-24 season while they went two league seasons without an away defeat. The German bagged 57 goals and provided 65 assists in 197 appearances for Leverkusen, having joined the club from Cologne in 2020. He scored 16 goals, with 15 assists, in 45 matches last season as Leverkusen finished second to Bayern. Capped 31 times by his country since his debut in 2021, Wirtz is the only player to register 10 or more goals and assists in the last two Bundesliga seasons. MIDFIELD OPTIONS While his arrival will add to Liverpool manager Arne Slot's midfield options, alongside Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones, Wirtz's versatility means he can also play on the left wing or as a false nine. His signing is a statement of intent from Liverpool as they look to build on their success under Slot, the first Dutch manager to win the Premier League and the sixth coach to win the title in their first season. "I would like to win everything every year! First of all, we have to do our work, I have to make my work," Wirtz added. "In the end, we want to be successful. Last season they won the Premier League so my goal is for sure to win it again and also to go further in the Champions League. I'm really ambitious." He becomes Liverpool's second addition of the transfer window after they signed Dutch right back Jeremie Frimpong, also from Leverkusen. Bournemouth left back Milos Kerkez, 21, has also been linked with the Merseyside club.
Straits Times
5 hours ago
- Straits Times
Liverpool shatter club transfer record to sign Germany midfielder Wirtz
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Nations League - Third Place Play Off Match - Germany v France - MHPArena, Stuttgart, Germany - June 8, 2025 Germany's Florian Wirtz during the warm-up before the match REUTERS/Heiko Becker/File Photo Liverpool have signed Germany's Florian Wirtz from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen, the Premier League champions said on Friday, as they smashed their transfer record to seal a deal for the attacking midfielder. Financial details were not disclosed, but British media reported that Liverpool would pay around 116.5 million pounds ($156.86 million) in total, which includes 16.5 million pounds in potential add-ons. That makes the 22-year-old their most-expensive signing ever, ahead of Netherlands centre back and captain Virgil van Dijk who joined for 75 million pounds in 2017. Wirtz, who signed a long-term contract, also becomes the fifth 100 million pound plus signing in Premier League history, joining Chelsea midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, Arsenal's Declan Rice and Manchester City winger Jack Grealish. "I feel very happy and very proud. Finally it's done and I was waiting for a long time – finally it's done and I am really happy," Wirtz said in a statement. "I'm really excited to have a new adventure in front of me. This was also a big point of my thoughts: that I want to have something completely new, to go out of the Bundesliga and to join the Premier League." With two years left on his Leverkusen contract, Wirtz was also heavily linked with a move to German champions Bayern Munich and Pep Guardiola's City, who were looking to replace Kevin De Bruyne after the Belgian playmaker's exit. Wirtz was instrumental at Leverkusen, leading them to an undefeated domestic league and Cup double in the 2023-24 season while they went two league seasons without an away defeat. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
CNA
5 hours ago
- CNA
Sabalenka saves four match points to outlast Rybakina in Berlin
World number one Aryna Sabalenka showed nerves of steel and champion's resolve to defeat Elena Rybakina 7-6(6) 3-6 7-6(6) in their Berlin Open quarter-final on Friday, saving four match points in the final-set tiebreak. Rybakina had led 6-2 in the deciding breaker and appeared on the brink of securing a place in the semis but after she was denied victory on her first match point by a net cord, the momentum swung in Sabalenka's favour. The Belarusian reeled off five straight points, eventually clinching the win as Rybakina faltered under pressure. Sabalenka's grit and power proved decisive against the 2022 Wimbledon champion. The first set was a see-saw battle, with Rybakina breaking for a 4-2 lead before Sabalenka hit straight back. Both players held serve from 4-4 to force a tiebreak, where Sabalenka edged it 8-6. Rybakina responded by racing into a 2-0 lead in the second set and breaking again late to close it out 6-3. The deciding set was fiercely contested, with Sabalenka breaking for 5-4 but failing to serve out the match as Rybakina broke back and held for 6-5. Sabalenka then held under pressure to force a tiebreak, which produced the match's most dramatic twist. "Elena, she's a great player, we had a lot of tough battles in the very last stages and she's an amazing player honestly no idea how I was able to win those last points, I think I just got lucky," Sabalenka said after the match. "When I was just starting, I won a lot of matches being down match points and actually not so long ago I was thinking, 'it's been a while since I've had some crazy comeback' and so here I am. "It's amazing to win matches like this, it trains your fighting spirit for the next tournaments and I'm proud of myself for trying till the very last point." Sabalenka will face Czech Marketa Vondrousova next, who is aiming for her first final since winning Wimbledon in 2023. Vondrousova defeated Ons Jabeur 6-4 6-1 in a rematch of the 2023 Wimbledon final. Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu advanced to the semi-finals after eighth seed Paula Badosa retired due to a right hip injury during their quarter-final clash. Wang, ranked 49th in the world, was leading 6-1 0-0 when Badosa pulled out of the contest. The Spaniard, visibly frustrated, smashed her racket and hurled it across the court following the post-match handshakes. The 23-year-old Wang has enjoyed a breakout week in the German capital, beating second seed Coco Gauff in the previous round. She will next face either American Amanda Anisimova or Russia's Liudmila Samsonova for a place in the final.
