Three of the six German tennis pros will compete in the second round in the main draw of the Tennis Masters in Indian Wells.
In addition to Olympic champion Alexander Zverev, who begins only in the second-round duel with Tommy Paul from the USA in the individual competition due to the farewell, there are also Dominic Kupfer and Oscar Otti. Koepfer needed a power performance in 2:6, 7:5, 6:4 against Frenchman Benoit Paire. The 27-year-old from Fortwangen saved four match points. In the second round of the $8.584055 Hard Court Championships in California, Kupfer will now face Russia’s Andre Rublio.
Oscar Otti had previously won his first-round match. Otti defeated France’s Richard Gasquet 6-2, 1-6, 6-3. In the next round, he meets the No. 11 seed in Poland, Hubert Hurkacz.
Philipp Kohlschreiber was the first German tennis player to abandon the Masters, followed by Daniel Altmaier and Jan-Lennard Struve during the day. 38-year-old Kohlschreiber of Augsburg lost to Emil Rossovoori of Finland 3:6, 3:6. Altmaier was beaten by qualifier Steve Johnson of USA 3:6, 6:7 (3:7). Struve lost to John Millman of Australia 6:7 (6:7), 4:6. The Indian Wells event is one of the most important tennis tournaments on the ATP Tour.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 220312-99-487457 / 3 (dpa)