Eight players, one title and a podcast

Eight players, six countries, two continents – that was the itinerary for the third week of February at Tennis University. 

Ruben Bemelmans had the shortest journey to his workplace at the Challenger in Koblenz. In the first round he had the privilege of a bye as a seeded player. In the second round he had to actively participate in the tournament for the first time. He mastered this task without any trouble with a 6-3 6-1 win against the Russian Artem Dubrivnyy. In the following match Frenchman Quentin Halys was only able to take two more games from the Belgian. The German Yannick Hanfmann was hardly better off. Against the top 150 player, who was second seeded, Ruben was able to secure his spot in the semi-finals and the 29 world ranking points that came with the 6-3 6-2 win. In the semi-finals, the later tournament champion Tomas Machac stopped the run of the Belgian. The Czech, who was in top form, proved to be an extremely unpleasant opponent, especially at his own serve.

In the doubles competition Ruben also showed strong form alongside his partner Daniel Masur. As in the previous week in Cherbourg, he met the Croatian sibling double Sabanov/Sabanov, who could be defeated in the Matchtiebreak. In the quarter finals, the Belgian/German team played against Sancic/Weissborn, who were seeded second. After fending off three match points in the second set, they also won this tiebreak. But as in the singles, Ruben was eliminated in the semi-finals. This time, the match tiebreak was lost to the German duo Lenz/Maden.

The Lithuanian Ugnius Bickauskis recently received a wildcard for the J2 in Siauliai in his home country. In the doubles competition he entered the tournament alongside the Latvian Daniils Snaiders. The two 17-year-olds mastered the first round with flying colours. Two sets against the Lithuanian duo Gaubas/Vaitiekunas were enough for them. In the following match against the top-seeded doubles team, consisting of the two top 100 players Krumich/Vincent Ruggeri, the matchtiebreak was decisive after the first two sets. Ugnius and his partner won the match 10-6 and reached the semi-finals of the competition. Here the Russians Kudriashov/Sharipov proved to be a bit too strong in another matchtiebreak, winning 3-10. Nevertheless the TU player can be happy about a successful week and the deserved points for the ITF Junior rankings.

Jonas Forejtek has left the ITF Junior Tour behind him since this year. In Antalya he competed at the M15 for his fourth tournament of the year. On the Turkish clay courts he met his first seeded opponent, Yshai Oliel, in the quarter-finals after two unchallenged two-set wins in the opening rounds. The Czech also made short work of his opponent from Israel, leaving him only five games. The number two seeded Jules Okala was left even less games by Jonas, losing 1-6 2-6. In the final on Sunday, the Spaniard Sanchez Izquierdo, the number three of the tournament, was waiting. This match also turned out to be a largely one-sided affair. With a 6-4 6-3 win Jonas secured his first ITF title of the new season. Another impressive milestone during his first steps on the men’s tour.

At the home base, the appearance of TU founder Alex Waske at the internationally renowned tennis podcast ‘functionaltennis’ was one of the main topics of conversation last week. In the almost 30 minutes of the podcast, the conversation revolved around the work at the Tennis University, the Czech top talent Jonas Forejtek and other topics related to tennis.

In addition, our HEAD players had the opportunity to test the new HEAD Speed racket last week before the model is released next month.

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