Justin Engel, 17, makes history at ATP Almaty | ATP Tour

Match Report

#NextGenATP 17-year-old Engel makes historical past in Almaty

Marterer defeats Dzumhur at ATP 250

October 14, 2024

German wild card Justin Engel made historical past on the Almaty Open on Monday when he grew to become the primary participant born in 2007 or later to file an ATP Tour win.

Engel, who turned 17 earlier this month, moved previous #NextGenATP Hong Kong star Coleman Wong 7-5, 6-4 to clinch a historic victory on his tour-level debut on the ATP 250 occasion in Kazakhstan.

Together with his one-hour, 35-minute triumph, the German additionally grew to become the youngest participant to win a tour-level match since then-16-year-old Carlos Alcaraz superior to the second spherical in Rio de Janeiro in 2020.

“This yr has already been so good for me and now this, it’s unbelievable,” Engel stated. “At 17, to have the ability to win a most important draw match is the most effective feeling I can ever have. I’m misplaced for phrases.”

Engel saved 9 of the ten break factors he confronted towards Wong in response to Infosys ATP Stats, sealing victory on his second match level. Engel raised his arms aloft following his win and set free a beaming smile. Aiming to proceed his journey, the No. 458 participant within the PIF ATP Rankings will subsequent play fourth seed Francisco Cerundolo.

“I’ve practised for just a few days and am getting used to it however it’s nonetheless very robust,” Engel stated when requested in regards to the excessive altitude situations. “I like to play right here. The services are nice right here.”

In Could, Engel gained his first ITF World Tennis Tour singles title at M15 Villach in Austria. Aged simply 16 years and 231 days, Engel grew to become the youngest German man to win an expert title at any stage since Mischa Zverev triumphed on the Italy 7 Satellite tv for pc occasion in November 2003. Engel has since gained an additional three ITF trophies in 2024 and reached the quarter-finals at an ATP Challenger Tour occasion in Spain earlier in October.

Wong is eighth within the PIF ATP Stay Race To Jeddah and is making an attempt to qualify for the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF for the primary time. The 20-year-old gained his first tour-level match in Hangzhou final month.

In different motion on the hard-court occasion, Germany’s Maximilian Marterer defeated Damir Dzumhur 7-5, 6-4. The 29-year-old will face second seed Alejandro Tabilo within the second spherical.

Did You Know?
Engel is the third participant born in 2007 to play on the ATP Tour this yr. India’s Manas Dhamne competed in Pune, whereas American Darwin Blanch took to courtroom in Miami and Madrid. Blanch misplaced to Rafael Nadal within the Spanish capital.