In a remarkable debut at the ATP 500, Flavio Cobolli secured a hard-fought first-round victory at the Hamburg Open, defeating local favourite Daniel Altmaier 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-3. Despite a minor setback in the second set, Cobolli maintained his composure to secure the win and set up a second-round showdown with the eighth seed Zhang Zhizhen or Thiago Seyboth Wild.
Following his triumph, Cobolli expressed his delight at the hard-fought victory, acknowledging the challenge of facing Altmaier in front of his home crowd. Despite his victory, the Italian remained modest, admitting that he did not deliver his best performance but was pleased to be back playing on his favourite surface. With an impressive record of 6-1 in opening rounds at tour-level clay events this year, Cobolli’s victory further solidifies his status as a rising star in the tennis world.
Meanwhile, there was also cause for celebration among the home fans as Maximilian Marterer clinched a thrilling win over Soonwoo Kwon, delighting the local spectators with his performance. The left-handed Marterer is now set to face off against the fourth seed Francisco Cerundolo in what promises to be an exciting match-up.
Elsewhere, Laslo Djere, who narrowly missed out on the Hamburg trophy in 2023, got off to a strong start in this year’s campaign with a commanding victory over Zizou Bergs. The Serbian’s impressive display sets the stage for a compelling second-round clash with the fifth seed Arthur Fils or Jaume Munar.
The Hamburg Open continues to showcase thrilling encounters and captivating performances from some of the sport’s most promising talents, providing tennis enthusiasts with an exciting display of skill and sportsmanship.
As the tournament progresses, fans can look forward to witnessing more thrilling matches and memorable moments on the clay courts of Hamburg. With each player seeking to make their mark on the prestigious ATP 500 event, the stage is set for an exhilarating display of talent and determination in the world of professional tennis.