The national tournament series is over, long live the national tournament series!
When DTB President Ulrich Klaus handed the board chairman of the hosting Tennis Club Großhesselohe Roland Benedikt a black board, with a big thank you for hosting the final tournament of the DTB German Pro Series , he immediately pushed that he wasn't on one Hope to repeat the event. Of course, this was not related to the event itself, but the expression of the wish that it was time to continue with the regular tennis tournaments, at least if Corona allowed it.
by Florian Heer
last edit: Jul 26, 2020, 01:07 pm
By Florian Heer from Pullach
After seven weeks and over 150 matches as part of the Tannenhof Resort German Men's Series, Yannick Hanfmann has chosen the overall winner in the final round on Friday afternoon. He benefited from Oscar Otte's task, who was unable to continue the endgame due to a foot injury in the second set.
“We are very grateful that the DTB hosted this tournament because there weren't many alternatives either. For us it was a well-rounded affair, ”Hanfmann announced after his success, thereby reflecting the general tenor of the active. "Now I'm going to take a break for a week and take a vacation. Then it goes back to training. Afterwards I would like to play Challenger tournaments. "
ATP challenger tour before starting again
With the tournaments in the Czech capital, Prague, and in Todi, Italy, the re-start of the base is already firmly anchored in the international tennis circuit. Monday is the registration deadline. Preparations are in full swing, for example from the organizers from Umbria.
The first editions were also published by the ATP. The number of accompanying persons of the players is limited and only those who can submit a negative Covid-19 test can take part in the events.
Incisions due to travel restrictions
However, special attention is paid to travel restrictions. Once again it shows that this is the real hurdle for organizing an international event with athletes from all over the world. In contrast to the big Grand Slam tournaments, the Challenger events in Europe could have a small advantage here. EU players make up the majority of participants in a summer clay court event at this level. Only 10 of the almost 50 individual players at last year's edition of the tournament in Prague came from countries outside the European community. There can be no question of a possible distortion of competition caused by the possible non-appearance of the top stars from Europe due to impending quarantine measures such as at the US Open.
In general, the planning of the ATP Challenger series continues unabated. The first tournaments were scheduled for September at the weekend. Italy, the Czech Republic, Romania, Croatia, the United States and Turkey are expected to continue in late summer.
“I am someone who likes to travel and enjoys playing in front of an audience. I hope that the tournaments can take place from August 17th, ”said Maximilian Marterer, who finished third in the DTB German Pro Series.
New tournament series in Germany
“Nationally there will be another tournament series with private sponsors. If things don't go further internationally, at least in Germany there will be more events, ”Otte reports the timetable.
Organized by the former Davis Cup selection player Andre Begemann, German tennis professionals together with top international players will collect game practice on home soil from Monday in Westphalian Halle as part of the International Premier League in more than five weeks. So there is more top tennis either way.