After a break in the mountains, things are set to go high: Justin Engel is heading into the Next Gen Finals of the ATP with great ambitions. And the 18-year-old tennis talent from Franconia also has big plans for the coming season.
“My goal for next year is to qualify for a Grand Slam. No matter whether through the rankings or the qualification. And at the end of the year top 100,” said Engel in an ATP discussion on Monday: “It’s a big goal, but I see it positively and will do my best.”
He is currently ranked 187th in the world and can look back on big steps in the past season. Due to the rejection of the Czech Jakub Mensik, Engel now even slipped into the annual final of the best young professionals, which he sees as a “reward”. At the event in Jeddah/Saudi Arabia he will contest his opener against the Belgian Alexander Blockx on Wednesday (1:00 p.m./Sky).
Engel also has a lot planned for the event, which he will be the first German to take part in. “I’m enjoying it and I want to qualify for the semi-finals,” he said.
Most recently, Engel took a quick breather after a long season and spent a vacation in the mountains with his girlfriend.