AUGSBURG/STARNBERG, August 20, 2025
It was a strong day for German tennis at the Schwaben Open by Great2Stay in Augsburg, where six home players began their campaigns in the second round of the ATP Challenger Tour 50 event. On a busy Wednesday at the TC Augsburg venue, Benito Sanchez Martinez continued his remarkable run without dropping a set, while Cedrik-Marcel Stebe and Henri Squire, along with second seed Christoph Negritu, all battled their way through in three-set thrillers. For rising teenager Max Schoenhaus, his contest against Switzerland’s Alexander Ritschard was suspended due to darkness with the German trailing by a set.
Stebe edges a marathon battle
Veteran Cedrik-Marcel Stebe had to dig deep to overcome Buvaysar Gadamauri in a match full of twists and tension. Stebe started sharply, mixing his shots well and stringing together four consecutive games to claim the opening set. But Gadamauri, who had battled more than three hours in the previous round to upset Jacopo Berrettini, struck back with aggressive play and a stylish one-handed backhand to level the match.
The deciding set swung back and forth. Serving for the win at 5–3, Stebe was broken at love, and later faced match points at 5–6 and again in the tiebreak. Showing trademark grit, the left-hander survived both before converting his first opportunity to close out a 6–2, 4–6, 7–6(6) victory after two and a half hours.
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“It was a match with lots of ups and downs,” Stebe admitted. “I played very well in the first set, but in the second I didn’t take my chances and he was much more effective. In the third it was almost like Russian roulette—anything could happen. A service game like the one at 5–3 really shouldn’t happen, but I’m very happy I somehow managed to get through.”
Stebe will next face Matyas Cerny, who outlasted fellow Czech Tadeas Paroulek in another three-hour battle.
Sanchez Martinez keeps rolling
Qualifier Benito Sanchez Martinez kept his dream week alive with a straight-sets victory over Belgian Gilles Arnaud Bailly, a former junior World No. 1. The 23-year-old from Berlin, who plays college tennis at Mississippi State University, broke midway through the first set and sealed it confidently. The second was tighter, going all the way to a tiebreak, where Sanchez Martinez held firm to clinch a 6–3, 7–6(6) win.
“Even though I served really well today, it was a tough match against a strong opponent who got a lot of balls back from defensive positions,” the left-hander reflected. “But I was able to stick to my game plan and didn’t collapse after losing serve. People might expect more after my recent matches, but I try not to put too much pressure on myself—I just go match by match and try to play my best tennis.”
Next up for Sanchez Martinez is Czech Zdenek Kolar, who upset seventh seed Hynek Barton in straight sets.
Negritu survives rollercoaster
Second seed Christoph Negritu endured an emotional rollercoaster before overcoming Stefan Popovic in just under three hours. After saving set points but ultimately dropping a tight opening tiebreak, the 31-year-old from Stuttgart roared back, racing to a 5–2 lead in the second set. Twice he failed to serve it out, but finally broke again and leveled the match.
The third set was decided by a single break at 3–3, with Negritu hanging on to complete a hard-fought 6–7(6), 7–5, 6–4 victory.
“I was really nervous at the start and my opponent came out very strong,” Negritu said. “In the tiebreak I tightened up again, but in the second set he dropped a bit and I was able to take advantage, even though I almost let him back in. In the third I stayed solid and took my chance when it came. I’m overjoyed to be through.”
Dedura falls after brave fight
Seventeen-year-old Diego Dedura produced a spirited performance against Spain’s Nikolas Sanchez Izquierdo but came up just short. Sanchez Izquierdo’s heavy forehand dictated the first set, but with strong crowd support Dedura fought back in the second, surging to a 5–2 lead. The Spaniard steadied himself, forced a tiebreak, and clinched the match 6–2, 7–6(6) with two blistering forehands.
Squire stages comeback
Germany’s Henri Squire capped the day with a gritty three-set win over Spanish clay-court specialist Inaki Montes-de la Torre. Montes-de la Torre was near flawless early on, but Squire gradually took control with his flat, penetrating groundstrokes. Breaking decisively in the ninth game of the final set, the 24-year-old sealed a 2–6, 6–2, 6–4 victory after just over two hours.
