ATP Challenger Todi: Yannick Hanfmann triumphs in Italy
Yannick Hanfmann is successful at the restart of the ATP Challenger Tour in Italy. The 28-year-old German won the 2020 Internazionali Di Tennis Citta Di Todi after a 6: 3 and 6: 3 success over the Spaniard Bernabe Zapata Miralles in the final on Sunday evening.
by Florian Heer
last edit: Aug 24, 2020, 09:40 am
From Florian Heer from Todi
In front of a good 100 spectators and in mild temperatures on the Campo Central of the Tennis Club Todi 1971, Hanfmann was the dominant player from the start. After three breaks in a row, the Karlsruhe resident took charge and secured the first round after just 36 minutes.
Hanfmann won 83 percent of his first serve points and was able to accept the service four times for Zapata Miralles. After an hour and four minutes, the number 143 in the ATP world rankings transformed his first match point.
Success without endangerment
"Fortunately, the final was relatively relaxed," said Hanfmann, satisfied afterwards. “In the first set I missed pulling away early, but in the second half I always had the feeling that it was my turn. I never worried about getting into distress. It's a feeling of luxury in an endgame. "
The finale was Hanfmann's second night shift that week. Even in the semifinals against the Italian Gian Marco Moroni, Hanfmann was under floodlights on the pitch in Todi. “The encounter yesterday helped me get used to the conditions. For Bernabe it was the first match in the evening and he had a hard time at the beginning. Maybe this was a small advantage for me. "
As a reward for his sixth tournament success on the ATP Challenger Tour, the first this season, there is 12,250 euros in prize money and 100 ATP world ranking points, which allow Hanfmann to come close to his top ranking again. In July 2018, it was ranked 99th.
Todi as a model tournament
The Munich resident was also full of praise for those responsible in Umbria for the implementation of hygiene regulations during the pandemic.
“Compliments to the organizers here. They did a very good job. It was definitely not easy to meet all the requirements. But you have implemented everything well, ”explained Hanfmann. "It would be nice to play under different conditions, but if that's the opportunity to play our calendar, then the upcoming tournaments should see how things went here in Todi."
Further tournaments in Italy will follow
Hanfmann will also spend the next two weeks in Italy. The clay court swing continues with the tournaments in Trieste and Cordenons.
“Today it got a little late. So I'll spend another night here before I go on to Trieste with my coach tomorrow morning. There is then the re-match with Moroni in the first round. I'm excited to see how it will go, ”said Hanfmann, looking forward to the further challenges.