A 17-year-old ATP star has made history after winning hie opening round match at the Almaty Open in Kazakhstan.
With the next generation of talent on the ATP Tour having comprehensively bedded themselves in this year, tennis is only enjoying the constant arrival of new rising stars.
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have turned the page winning two Grand Slams each this year, denying Novak Djokovic a record-breaking 25th.
On the women’s side, 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva has made WTA history constantly throughout the year, making the semi-finals of the French Open in June.
However, while they have established themselves as mainstays of the ATP and WTA circuits, a new star has sought to announce himself this week in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
German wild card Justin Engel has just made history at the ATP 250 Almaty Open on Monday.
The 17-year-old became the first player born in 2007 or later to record an ATP Tour win after defeating Coleman Wong 7-5, 6-4.
His victory also means he is the youngest player to win a tour-level match since Alcaraz won his opening round match in Rio de Janeiro when he was just 16.
Engel told the ATP: “This year has already been so good for me and now this, it is incredible. At 17, to be able to win a main draw match is the best feeling I can ever have. I am lost for words.
“I have practised for a few days and am getting used to it but it is still very tough,” Engel said of the conditions. “I love to play here. The facilities are great here.”
The young German faces Francisco Cerundolo next.
In May, Engel won his first ITF singles title in Austria, aged 16 years and 231 days.
In doing so, he became the youngest German man to win a professional title at any level since Alexander Zverev’s older brother Mischa in November 2003.
The youngster has won three more ITF trophies this year and reached the quarter-finals at a Challenger event in Spain earlier this month.
He’s certainly a name to keep an eye on!
