The top seeded tennis star Medvedev prevailed in a high-class first round duel at the ATP tournament in Halle/Westphalia.
Medvedev defeated Marcos Giron (USA), who initially played like he was unleashed, 6:4, 6:3. On Monday (06/19/2023) Giron gave the Russian victory with a double fault after he had previously demanded a lot from the third-placed in the ATP world rankings.
Medvedev’s defensive skills asked
So Medvedev had to fend off a breakball in the middle of the second set with all his class. This was successful – and then he took the service game from Giron himself. Thus, Medvedev’s defensive skills were particularly decisive, which then wore down the aggressive Giron on the track.
“It was a really difficult task, I didn’t expect that against him on grass. He played really well,” the 2021 US Open champion later praised his opponent.
Trembling victory for Tsitsipas against Barrere
Greek tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas cheers with a clenched fist.
Meanwhile, Stefanos Tsitsipas had to work overtime to win the first round. The number two seeded Greek Tsitsipas had to go the full distance over three sets in his opening duel with Frenchman Gregoire Barrere. After 2:22 hours he prevailed 6:7, 6:4, 7:6.
Tsitsipas first unimaginative, then suddenly strong
In the first set in particular, the number five in the world seemed unimaginative and had significant problems in the return game. Although he created six break chances, he was unable to capitalize on any of them. Instead, Barrere used his first chance to win the set, having previously fended off the set ball for Tsitsipas in the tie-break.
After renewed starting problems in the second set, Tsitsipas got up and managed a rebreak to make it 3: 3. Then he turned the game around. In the last section, too, he survived critical moments again and fended off breakballs from the Frenchman. Again it went into the tie-break, which produced Tsitsipas as the winner.
Kyrgios out of action due to knee injury
Meanwhile, in Nick Kyrgios, another star had to cancel his start at short notice. The 28-year-old Australian is suffering from a knee injury. This was announced by the professional organization ATP on Monday.
A few days after his comeback on the tennis tour, Kyrgios suffered the next setback. The Australian played his first match of the year in Stuttgart last week after knee surgery, but lost in the first round. He then asked his fans for patience.
The impact of his Hall cancellation for Wimbledon is open. At the Grand Slam tournament, which will be held from July 3rd to 16th, Kyrgios only lost in the final last year against the Serbian record Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic. At the lawn tournament in Halle, the Russian professional Aslan Karazew took his place.
Oscar Otte’s descent continues in Halle
Oscar Otte hits in the 1st round of the ATP tournament in Halle.
Cologne’s Oscar Otte continued his descent on Monday in the “home game” in Halle/Westphalia and missed the hoped-for sense of achievement against Laslo Djere. The 29-year-old lost to the Serbs in his first round match 6:7 (3:7), 3:6. At the fifth tournament in a row, Otte failed in the first round.
Otte crashed to 228th in the world rankings
In 2021 Otte reached the round of 16 at the US Open and showed in the following year with his third round entry in Wimbledon that he can keep up at the highest level.
In the meantime, however, he has fallen back to 228th in the world rankings in a difficult season and is currently unable to stop the sporting downturn.
Ralf Weber honored by DTB for life’s work
Away from the purely sporting events, DTB President Dietloff von Arnim honored the tournament director of the renowned lawn tournament in Halle/Westphalia, Ralf Weber, with the “DTB Award” for his life’s work.
“What has been built up in Halle over the last few decades is simply great and remarkable,” said von Arnim. This year the event celebrates its 30th anniversary. The award for life’s work had already been presented in 2018 to tournament initiator Gerhard Weber, Ralf Weber’s father, who died in 2020.
