Oscar Otte showed the next strong performance at the ATP tournament in Halle against Karen Chatschanow. In the semifinals he has to face Daniil Medvedev, who is number one.
The 28-year-old from Cologne won on Friday (June 17th, 2022) in the quarterfinals against the Russian Karen Chatschanov 4: 6, 7: 6 (7: 5), 6: 4 and is thus in an ATP 500 for the first time in his career. Tournament semifinals.
The number one in the world, 26-year-old Daniil Medvedev, is waiting there on Saturday. The Russian also easily beat the Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut 6:2, 6:4 on Friday. In the second semi-final, Australians Nick Kyrgios and Hubert Hurkacz face each other.
Otte with shoulder problems “pushed” by the audience
“The audience pushes me enormously. It’s great fun to play in front of so many spectators,” said Otte from Cologne.
“A few years ago I watched the matches from Halle on TV. And now I’m playing here on Center Court myself. It’s actually unbelievable,” said the 28-year-old, who reached the semi-finals in Stuttgart last week would have.
However, Otte struggled with shoulder problems against Chatschanow. At the beginning of the third set, the German even had to be treated briefly. “The painkiller worked quickly,” said Otte. “I gained energy with the last drop.”
No break chances in the first set
Up to the score of 4:4 in the first set, Otte was able to keep up with number 23 in the world. Both players were able to get through their service games, there were no break chances. However, with a return winner with the backhand, Khachanov then struck and gained the decisive advantage.
Otte pulls through in the second sentence
Otte and his opponent also dominated in the second round with their serves, the receivers had no chance. With a strong game from zero, the Cologne player secured at least the tie break to make it 6: 5, which had to bring the decision after another safe service from Khachanov.
In his first two matches in Halle, Otte had already proven that he was a specialist in this discipline. He secured a set win in the tie break against both Miomir Kecmanovic and Nikoloz Basilashvili. And he also prevailed against Khachanov, using the second set ball with an ace to make it 7:5.
A man for the crunch time
And in the decisive set, Otte showed his nerves of steel, just like in the round of 16. When the score was 2:2, he managed the first break and confirmed it in a tight game seven minutes later to make it 4:2. And then Otte, who had to fend off two breakballs in the last game, held his serve both times and secured the ticket for the semifinals.
