SCHWIEBERDINGEN, February 15, 2017
Evgeny Karlovskiy is the champion of the 10th edition of the $15,000 Südwestbank Tennis Grand Prix, held at the Tennis King Academy in Schwieberdingen. The 22-year-old from Russia battled past fourth seed Yaraslau Shyla of Belarus, rallying 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Shyla was in control at the beginning of the match and a weak service game by the Russian led to the first break of the encounter in the fourth game. A couple of minutes later, another unforced backhand error by Karlovskiy and Shyla took the opening set in the eighth game after 26 minutes.
The third seed from Russia started to find his rhythm in the following, tried to stay aggressive on the fast surface coming to the net as often as possible. Karlovskiy clinched a topsy-turvy second set with five breaks after 69 minutes to push the final the distance.
The final continued like this, as Karlovskiy was a break up in the third but Shyla evened score at 4-4. The World No. 503 from Moscow took the momentum with a break in the following and served the match out with his 10th ace after one hour and 44 minutes.
Champion and runner-up: Karlovskiy and Shyla
“Not a bad start into the season,” Karlovskiy told with a smile. “When we arrived here, my coach told me that I do not have to expect anything. Just having fun here but I finished quite well and I am very happy with the result.”
Karlovskiy takes away $2,160 in prize money as well as 27 ATP Ranking points.
“He was up with a break and then I was lucky with a couple of shots and the match became more even. Only a few shots actually decided the final,” Karlovskiy was happy lifting his fourth ITF Future trophy, his first on carpet.
“My coach told me that the surface will destroy my game but it went pretty well and so we can go on with the next tournament.”
Schwieberdingen is the start of a three-week indoor swing in Germany, followed by the $15,000 tournaments in Kaarst and Nussloch. Both of the finalists are heading for the Kirschbaum International next.
“I will have a pizza tonight and then drive to Kaarst,” Karlovskiy revealed his plans for the evening.
