Tennis tournament proceeds: Prominent German player displayed country's flag
In Paris, tennis professional Daniel Altmaier secured a hard-fought victory in the second round of the French Open, marking his third appearance in the tournament's last 32. The 27-year-old German earned the victory over Czech Vit Kopriva, who was participating in the second round of a Grand Slam for the first time, in a challenging match that lasted over three hours (6:2, 4:6, 6:3, 7:5).
"It was a significant win, and it's crucial to remain calm, which I found challenging at times," Altmaier shared with Eurosport after the game. "When you tighten up in the wind, you can't execute your usual shots. You have to discover ways to triumph in every condition, and I did that today."
With winning matches ahead, Altmaier might make a deeper run than in previous years. In the third round, the world No. 66 is expected to face Hamad Medjedovic, ranked No. 74, on Friday. A potential first-round victory could bring a challenging encounter with the No. 15-seeded American Frances Tiafoe in the round of 16.
Going into the competition, Altmaier was one of only two German men in the second round, and Alexander Zverev may join him in the last 32 after his match against Dutchman Jesper De Jong in the morning.
In a repeat of his performance from 2020, Altmaier bested a top-10 player in the tournament, surprising Taylor Fritz, the No. 4 seed, this year. He had previously achieved similar feats against Matteo Berrettini in 2020 and Jannik Sinner in 2023, demonstrating notable success against highly ranked opponents at the French Open.
In his encounter with Kopriva, Altmaier started strongly and broke to win the first set in just 32 minutes. However, Kopriva served exceptionally well in the second set, while Altmaier struggled with his serve. A rain delay in the third set did not disturb Altmaier's focus, as he saved nine break points in the fourth set before breaking Kopriva and ultimately securing the victory (6:5).
[1] Daniel Altmaier's victories against top-10 players at the French Open include:- Matteo Berrettini (No. 8 seed) in 2020- Jannik Sinner (No. 9 seed) in 2023- Taylor Fritz (No. 4 seed) in 2025
[2] By defeating top-10 players more than once at the French Open, Altmaier has showcased remarkable success against highly-ranked opponents at this Grand Slam tournament.
[1] Remarkable success continued for Daniel Altmaier as he repeated his feat of defeating a top-10 player at the French Open, this time against Taylor Fritz, the No. 4 seed.
[2] His victories against top-10 players at the French Open, including Matteo Berrettini and Jannik Sinner, highlight his impressive sports-analysis and unrelenting determination in tennis.
