HAMBURG, October 19, 2022
German youngster Max Rehberg continued his fine run of form by reaching the second round of the Hamburg Ladies & Gents Cup ATP Challenger Tour 80 event. The 19-year-old, who recently captured his maiden title on the Pro Circuit at the ITF World Tennis Tour M15 tournament in Forbach, France, and finished runner-up on home soil at last week’s Wolffkran Open in Ismaning to Quentin Halys in his first Challenger final, defeated Briton Billy Harris 7-6(3), 6-2 on Wednesday.
Following his good results on carpet, Rehberg adjusted well to the slower hard courts at the Hamburg Tennis Association. The World No. 436, Germany’s best-ranked male teenager, capitalized on all of his three break-point chances to prevail after one hour and 24 minutes.
“I am pleased with my first performance here,” said Rehberg. “It was a challenge to get used to the new surface but I think that I managed it pretty well and I hope to continue like this. I am having fun on the court and of course I have gained some confidence over the last couple of weeks. I am feeling good.”
“I like the city of Hamburg and the people here,” said the Bavarian and added with a smile: “Only the weather was not good on arrival and lived up to the stereotype.”
Rehberg will next challenge the tournament’s top seed Gregorie Barrere of France, who opened his title bid with a 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory over Belgian alternate Raphael Collignon in one hour and 28 minutes.
Sels reaches quarterfinals
Second-seeded Dutchman Jelle Sels also overcame a slow start in his second-round match, battling past German wild card entry Nicola Kuhn 4-6, 6-4, 6-1. The World No. 140, who lifted his maiden Challenger trophy in Mouilleron-Le-Captif in France two weeks ago, converted five of his 12 break-point opportunities to succeed in two hours and 15 minutes. Sels will next play French qualifier Matteo Martineau, a 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 winner over local wild card Marko Topo.
In other action, No. 7 seed Jonas Forejtek from the Czech Republic beat Dusan Ajdukovic of Croatia 6-2, 7-6(10) and will oppose Alexander Ritschard in the quarterfinals. The fourth-seeded Swiss cruised past Czech qualifier Andrew Paulson 6-1, 6-0 in only 50 minutes.
