Grass-Courting Prodigy Engel Shines in Stuttgart
Tennis pro left stunned by unexpected attendance of NHL athlete in spectator stand
Stuttgart (dpa) - Tennis phenom Justin Engel makes waves in his grass court debut, storming into the quarterfinals in Stuttgart. The 17-year-old from Nuremberg stunned Australian James Duckworth 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) in a nail-biting comeback, lasting an intense 2 hours and 29 minutes. Engel, a wildcard entrant, showcased remarkable resilience, squandering two match points at 5-4 in the decisive third set but sealing the win with a triumphant dive onto the grass.
"Mate, I'm fucking ecstatic!" exclaimed Engel, visibly thrilled with his hard-fought victory.
Enveloped by early jitters, Engel initially struggled, particularly with a rocky start on serve. However, he soon regained his composure, with the exception of a brief moment at 2-3 in the third set where he received treatment for dizziness and exhaustion, assuring fans that it was just due to forgetting to eat his bananas.
Among the impressed spectators was hockey sensation Moritz Seider, spending his summer break at home in Mannheim. "I'm just a sports fanatic," Seider shared, explaining his presence at the tennis match with his partner, former short track speed skater Anna Seider.
Engel is one of a quartet of 17-year-olds breathing fresh air into German men's tennis amidst Alexander Zverev's reign. Niels McDonald made international headlines last weekend, taking the French Open junior title, beating Max Schoenhaus in the German final. Diego Dedura, like Engel, has already made his mark on the ATP Tour.
Meanwhile, Zverev takes some time to prep for grass-court action, recovering from a French Open quarterfinal exit. As the top seed at the Stuttgart tournament, he enjoys a first-round bye and is expected to face competition on Thursday.
Unfortunately, Yannick Hanfmann's journey ends as the qualifier from Karlsruhe loses to Hungarian Marton Fucsovics 5-7, 4-6. Jan-Lennard Struff advances to the quarterfinals earlier this week.
Justin Engel - A Shooting Star in the Making
Justin Engel, the 17-year-old German tennis wunderkind, has been turning heads in the tennis world with his impressive performances. Here's a glimpse into his recent exploits:
- Youngest Grass-Court Quarterfinalist: Engel etched his name in Stuttgart's history books as the youngest grass-court quarterfinalist, following his victory over Alex Michelsen 6-4, 6-4. This accolade also marks him as the youngest player to reach the quarterfinals of an ATP Tour grass-court tournament since Boris Becker in 1985 [1][2][5].
- First Top 50 Win: Engel registered his first win against a Top 50 player when he took down Alex Michelsen [1].
- Versatile Rising Star: Engel has proven to be incredibly versatile, making him one of the youngest players in history to win matches on all three surfaces - grass, clay, and hard-court - on the ATP Tour [2]. This feat mirrors that of tennis legend Rafael Nadal [2].
- Rapid Ranking Advancement: Engel's rise through the rankings has been nothing short of meteoric, skyrocketing from No. 1344 at the start of the 2024 season to being within striking distance of the top 250 [2].
Engel's success can primarily be attributed to his powerful serve and flat backhand [1], which have been the backbone of his impressive wins thus far. As he continues to push boundaries, German tennis enthusiasts eagerly look forward to his ascent to the top ranks.
"Justin Engel, the 17-year-old tennis prodigy, is not just excelling on hard-court tournaments but also showing prowess in other sports court environments, such as the grass courts, much like the legendary Boris Becker."
"While other sports may be of interest to some, like hockey sensation Moritz Seider, it's clear that tennis is also captivating a diverse audience, with its young trailblazers like Justin Engel continuing to make waves in the tennis world."
