ATP Hamburg: Wildcards for Karen Khachanov and Yannick Hanfmann
The Russian Karen Khachanov (ATP 16) and Yannick Hanfmann (ATP 101) will receive the last two main draw wildcards for the Hamburg European Open 2020 (September 19-27). By making it to the quarter-finals at the Masters tournament in Rome, Dominik Koepfer received a so-called Special Exempt, through which he slipped straight into the main field and thus could be awarded another wildcard.
by PM
last edit: Sep 18, 2020, 07:56 pm
Koepfer should have entered the qualification due to his world ranking position in Hamburg. Due to his convincing 6: 4, 6: 0 knockout round win against the Italian Lorenzo Musetti, Koepfer will now face world number one Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals in Rome on Saturday. Since this means that it is not possible to compete in the Hamburg qualification, the regulation for a special exempt comes into force regardless of the wildcard that Koepfer has already received.
Yannick Hanfmann from Karlsruhe receives the wildcard that has become free. A week ago in Kitzbühel, the 28-year-old made his way from qualifying to his second final on the ATP Tour.
Khachanov originally in qualifying
Another wild card goes to Karen Khachanov , who originally entered to qualify for the tournament. The four-time tournament winner on the ATP Tour has been preparing in Hamburg since Thursday and, thanks to the wildcard, can serve on Rothenbaum for the second time in his career.
Khachanov celebrated its premiere at Rothenbaum three years ago. At that time he was eliminated after victories against the German Rudi Molleker and Aljaz Bedene (Slovenia) in the quarter-finals against the Argentine Federico Delbonis. "Karen Khachanov, with his powerful and powerful baseline game, is exemplary for the new generation of world-class players and once again enhances our outstanding field of participants," said tournament director Sandra Reichel about the 24-year-old, who has been on the tour for seven years and is already was among the top ten in the world rankings. Previously, Rothenbaum record player Philipp Kohlschreiber had already received a wild card.