21:32
Altmaier – Hanfmann 2:2
Now Hanfmann allows himself his first double mistake, in the meantime quarrels with himself and his mistakes.
21:29
Altmaier – Hanfmann 2:2
Hanfmann immediately gets the re-break, benefiting again from a slight mistake by the opponent, which becomes too long from the baseline. Everything back in order!
21:28
Altmaier – Hanfmann 2:1
The rate of the first serve drops at Altmaier. In addition, the error rate increases, the Kempener messes up the next backhand and faces a breakball.
21:27
Altmaier – Hanfmann 2:1
Hanfmann defends himself and is invited by a competitor who failed to stop. And when Altmaier throws a backhand longline a little later, it’s about debut.
21:26
Altmaier – Hanfmann 2:1
After that, Hanfmann succeeds in returning the forehand, brings it close to the line with a good length and thus wins the point.
21:24
Altmaier – Hanfmann 2:1
With the break in his luggage, Altmaier continues to serve well and is now making the first ace of the match. And boom, another one! 30:0!
21:23
Altmaier – Hanfmann 2:1
Altmaier uses the second break chance and now benefits again from a slight mistake by the opponent, who is once again blocked by the obstacle in the game.
21:22
Altmaier – Hanfmann 1:1
Hanfmann cleverly fends off the first breakball, lures the opponent forward with a stop and then sets the passing ball carefully and precisely.
21:21
Altmaier – Hanfmann 1:1
A net attack by Hanfmann is then successful, but the next backhand into the net is not far away. That brings Altmaier the first breakballs – two in number.
21:20
Altmaier – Hanfmann 1:1
Hanfmann makes too many mistakes, the 31-year-old balances a forehand into the net without need. 0:30!
21:18
Altmaier – Hanfmann 1:1
After that, the 24-year-old allowed himself the first double fault of the match. Nevertheless, Altmaier keeps his nerves and now serves well again. Hanfmann doesn’t manage a controlled return.
21:17
Altmaier – Hanfmann 0:1
Altmaier always brings the first into the field, so he quickly gets three balls. The first remains unused because of a backhand error.
21:16
Altmaier – Hanfmann 0:1
The forehand also fits down the line. Altmaier has managed the more impressive shots so far.
21:15
Altmaier – Hanfmann 0:1
Then Hanfmann tries the forehand stop for the first time. That’s where Altmaier comes in. His backhand, however, does not make it over the net. The first game goes to Hanfmann.
21:14
Altmaier – Hanfmann 0:0
A little later, two balls are ready for Hanfmann. But then Altmaier ignites his backhand longline for the first time. It sits wonderfully.
21:13
Altmaier – Hanfmann 0:0
Now Altmaier tries the stop for the first time, which Hanfmann runs without any problems and pushes the forehand unreachable and close to the line.
21:10
1 sentence
Now Hanfmann opens the first official duel of these two Germans. The player from Baden gets into the rally via the second serve, which he ends with a forehand into the net.
21:05
Entry and coin toss
At this moment, our protagonists enter the court. After a few steps of preparation, we meet with the chair umpire Manu Franco Ojea to vote at the net. The coin falls in favor of Altmaier, who chooses setback. Then both play a bit.
20:52
Shortly
Borna Ćorić has just used his fourth match point, beating Hubert Hurkacz 7: 6 and 6: 3. So the place in Stadium 3 is finally free for our match, which should start around 9:00 p.m.
20:26
One Davis Cup match each
Incidentally, both professionals were already in action for Germany in the Davis Cup. Hanfmann was nominated three times in 2017 and played his only match against the Portuguese João Domingues, which he lost. Altmaier was called up for the first time this year, also played against Switzerland and lost out to Stan Wawrinka.
20:15
hempman
Hanfmann reached the second round of the Australian Open at Grand Slam level in 2022. Otherwise, the majors were always over after the opening game. At the Masters level, there was round two in Miami 2021. That was it. Nevertheless, the Karlsruher has already left his mark on the ATP tour, reached two finals in 2017 in Gstaad and 2020 in Kitzbühel (both on sand), but could not win them. With regard to the title, he is only left with the challengers – six in number and the last in 2020 in Todi, Italy. Last October, the right-hander was in a final again in Rio de Janeiro. In addition, Hanfmann also knew how to please on the big stage in the 250s in Santiago de Chile (quarterfinals) and Houston (semifinals) this season. According to the live ranking, the last 108th in the world rankings could return to the top 100, where he was 92nd before.
20:05
Wait
In the meantime, three matches in Stadium 3 went over three sets. The fourth game scheduled here is currently running. Borna Ćorić won the first set against Hubert Hurkacz. So patience is still required of us. We have to look towards 8:45 p.m. before our German boys can start at the earliest.
19:55
Altmaier
Altmaier is playing his fifth Masters tournament, reached the round of 16 in Wimbledon in 2020, otherwise did not make a significant appearance on the ATP tour. A class lower in challengers, things are going better for the right-hander. The man from Kempen recently won in Sarasota, USA, and won his seventh Challenger title. The former number 53 in the world is currently in position 92. In the live ranking, it has already moved up two places.
19:45
lucky loser
Altmaier’s path also began in qualifying, but seemed to end after the clear win against Attila Balázs. The 24-year-old was the loser against the Austrian Jurij Rodionov, but then benefited from the injury of Pablo Carreño Busta, becoming the third lucky loser of this tournament and slipping straight into the second round. The Rhinelander prevailed in two sets against Oscar Otte. Altmaier as well as Hanfmann are playing for the first time ever at the Madrid Open.
19:35
qualifier
This duel between two German players, who are in the third round of a 1,000er for the first time, comes about somewhat unexpectedly. Both had started in the qualification. Hanfmann prevailed quite smoothly against Maximilian Marterer and Arthur Cazaux, reaching the main draw of a Masters for the second time – after Miami 2021. There the 31-year-old continued his triumphal march, eliminated the Peruvian Juan Pablo Varillas in three sets and then surprised at 6:4, 7:6 against Lorenzo Musetti, who was 15th.
17:00
Tardiness
In the meantime, the schedule has shifted significantly. Two three-set matches caused massive delays in Stadium 3. Currently we have to assume that our encounter will not start until around 8:00 p.m. We stay on the ball.
16:45
Welcome
Welcome to the Mutua Madrid Open! At the Masters tournament in the Spanish capital, third round matches are on the program today. It comes to a German-German duel between Daniel Altmaier and Yannick Hanfmann. According to the original plans, the game should start around 5:00 p.m.