No products in the cart.
Return To Shop
Justin Engel, 17, makes history at ATP Almaty | ATP Tour
Match Report
#NextGenATP 17-year-old Engel makes history in Almaty
Marterer defeats Dzumhur at ATP 250
October 14, 2024
Andrey Udartsev / KTF.kz
Justin Engel is the first player born in 2007 or later to win an ATP Tour match.
By Sam Jacot
German wild card Justin Engel made history at the Almaty Open on Monday when he became the first player born in 2007 or later to record an ATP Tour win.
Engel, who turned 17 earlier this month, moved past #NextGenATP Hong Kong star Coleman Wong 7-5, 6-4 to clinch a historic victory on his tour-level debut at the ATP 250 event in Kazakhstan.
With his one-hour, 35-minute triumph, the German also became the youngest player to win a tour-level match since then-16-year-old Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the second round in Rio de Janeiro in 2020.
“This year has already been so good for me and now this, it is incredible,” Engel said. “At 17, to be able to win a main draw match is the best feeling I can ever have. I am lost for words.”
Engel saved nine of the 10 break points he faced against Wong according to Infosys ATP Stats, sealing victory on his second match point. Engel raised his arms aloft following his win and let out a beaming smile. Aiming to continue his journey, the No. 458 player in the PIF ATP Rankings will next play fourth seed Francisco Cerundolo.
“I have practised for a few days and am getting used to it but it is still very tough,” Engel said when asked about the high altitude conditions. “I love to play here. The facilities are great here.”
In May, Engel won his first ITF World Tennis Tour singles title at M15 Villach in Austria. Aged just 16 years and 231 days, Engel became the youngest German man to win a professional title at any level since Mischa Zverev triumphed at the Italy 7 Satellite event in November 2003. Engel has since won a further three ITF trophies in 2024 and reached the quarter-finals at an ATP Challenger Tour event in Spain earlier in October.
Wong is eighth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah and is trying to qualify for the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF for the first time. The 20-year-old won his first tour-level match in Hangzhou last month.
In other action at the hard-court event, Germany’s Maximilian Marterer defeated Damir Dzumhur 7-5, 6-4. The 29-year-old will face second seed Alejandro Tabilo in the second round.
Did You Know?
Engel is the third player born in 2007 to play on the ATP Tour this year. India’s Manas Dhamne competed in Pune, while American Darwin Blanch took to court in Miami and Madrid. Blanch lost to Rafael Nadal in the Spanish capital.
Add comment