Favorite fright strikes
German sensation at French Open
May 26, 2025 – 5:19 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
The German tennis professional Daniel Altmaier once more lives up to his reputation as a favorite fright. At the French Open, it ensures a sensation.
Daniel Altmaier caused a big surprise at the French Open and thrown the US Open finalist Taylor Fritz out of the tournament. The 26-year-old from Kempen prevailed 7: 5, 3: 6, 6: 3, 6: 1 in his opening match against the world ranking fourth and confirmed his reputation as a favorite fright-in 2023 he had conquered in Paris in the second round of Jannik Sinner in five epic sets.
“I have worked very hard in the past few weeks to be in shape for such games,” said Altmaier on the microphone: “Now I have the feeling that I am ready to play against everyone.”
Altmaier, number 66 in the world, now meets the Czech Vit Kopřiva (86th), in the form of the Fritz match, the French Open could continue for him until the second week of tournament. In 2020 Altmaier had reached Roland Garros’ round of 16 at his Grand Slam debut, but since then he has not got past the third round of a major tournament. Two years ago, after the coup against Sinner, he failed a round later on the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov.
Fritz, anything but a clay court friend, has first reached the round of the last 16 in Paris. In 2024 he lost to Norwegian Casper Ruud in the round of 16. His strengths are on hard places: At the US Open 2024, he had defeated Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals and only lost in the final against Jannik Sinner. But he was far from this constitution on Monday.
Altmaier did not show the outsider role, played bravely and aggressively from the start, and again and again and above all with his backhand the lines. At 4: 5 in the first round he fended off a set ball, after which he managed the decisive break – after 47 minutes the German was in front.
Fritz struggled, was visibly eaten, but bit into play. After the sentence compensation, Altmaier shook himself, quickly found his line again and confidently secured the third round.
Altmaier managed the break to 2-1 and another 4: 1. Fritz was at the end with the Latin and nerve – after 2:41 hours the biggest surprise of the ongoing French Open was perfect.