The start in Wimbledon was optimal for the German tennis hope Oscar Otte. Even without parts of his missing equipment including lucky charms.
Tennis pro Oscar Otte (Cologne) has almost given up the search for his bag with a lucky stone and tennis equipment that went missing on the flight to London. “I now think that she is missing,” said the 28-year-old from Cologne after his second-round victory at the Wimbledon lawn classic on Wednesday (June 29, 2022).
Otte’s bag with equipment not found
“I don’t know how a bag can disappear, either someone took it away or it’s still in Hamburg or London. Meanwhile, I’m really too stupid to follow up, it really just draws energy.” His father’s secretary will make one last search attempt.
The piece of luggage with grass shoes and a roll of strings to string rackets was lost on the trip to the Grand Slam tournament – and the airline has not been able to find it since.
Otte: “Actually, I’m very superstitious”
The fact that the lucky charm in the form of a stone that Otte got from his father is gone has not yet had a negative impact at Wimbledon.
In the second round, opponent Christian Harrison gave up after just 15 minutes. “Actually, I’m very superstitious,” said Otte. “When he’s gone, he’s gone, that’s not in my hands. So far it’s worked out quite well without Glücksstein.”
Wimbledon round three: Otte now against Alcaraz
In the absence of the missing Olympic champion Alexander Zverev, who was injured, Otte is the German number one in Wimbledon for men and the only one of seven starters in the third round.
It is now against the young Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz. “If I have a good chance, it will be on grass, on the other courts he is one of the best players,” said Otte about the 19-year-old seventh in the world rankings.
“Here I can suppress the most that he comes to his game, in his comfort zone,” said the Cologne native: “I have to keep the rallies short, mix a lot.” So Otte’s buddy Jan-Lennard Struff, who brought Alcaraz to the brink of defeat in the first round. “With Struffi you saw how it works. He went for it and kept the rallies short.”
