On Monday afternoon, Michael Kohlmann stood on the gravel path in front of the MTTC Iphitos club house when something was suddenly jumping. “I’m in there, I’m in there,” called Diego Dedura-Palomero, who has been wearing a remarkable brave hydrogen blonde mane for a lost bet. He stretched out his hand so that Kohlmann could clap him, and of course the national coach of the German tennis men liked to do that. Shortly before, the Frenchman Gaël Monfils had withdrawn his start due to an injury, it is an idiosyncratic tournament anyway, because nine of the 32 -planned players in the main field could not compete for various reasons. Fabulous five Lucky Loser, professionals who had failed in qualification, moved into the Tableau in this way. And Dedura-Palomero, only 17 years old in December, a Berliner, the father from Chile, the mother from Lithuania, was suddenly in the first round of an ATP tournament.
The story was already a good one, in the first qualification round the young German had defeated the American Mackenzie McDonald, number 100 in the world rankings. Dedura-Palomero is in 549 and most recently played Challenger and ITF tournaments below the ATP Tour. Then he lost to the experienced Kazakh Alexander Buthskin and was outside before Monfils gave him a second tournament life.
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Dedura-Palomero’s history became even better. He took advantage of this opportunity, in a spectacular way that has not been seen for a long time at a Talent of the DTB.
Against the Canadian Denis Shapovalov, 29th in the ATP ranking, Dedura-Palomero not only played well, he acted cheeky, research and confident, with his forehand, which was surprising that his role model Rafael Nadal, the left-hander dared to shot. With rowing arms, he asked the audience in the new, huge stadium of the BMW Open to cheer him on. He has the number on it too. When he won the first sentence in the tie-break, it got very loud when Shapovalov gave up at 6: 7 (2) and 0: 3, Dedura-Palomero, who is considered one of the greatest talents in 2008, really won his first ATP match.
In the world rankings, he jumps at least more than 170 places forward to 376th place
He is the first player this year on the ATP Tour. Last year he was the first to be born in 2008 and won a match on the Challenger tour. After the victory, the audience could see that the youthful emotions were over. Dedura-Palomero, which is very believing, drew a cross on the sand covering on the baseline with the shoe sole and went back. Then he shaped his hands into a heart and held it towards the applauding viewers.
“I can’t believe it, I can’t put it in words,” said Dedura-Palomero in an interview with the ATP afterwards, he spoke in the best English and as quickly as his legs were flashed before. He speaks four languages. “I said to myself and have fun, enjoy the audience and show your best tennis.” He thanked his mother, who had stayed at home, that he was “superhappy”. Dedura-Palomero admitted that he was nervous, “but of course you stay calm on the outside”. He has certainly copied this bluff from Nadal, with the 22-time Grand Slam winner, now on the tennis retirement, he has already trained in his academy in Mallorca.
He had previously earned a good 20,000 euros in prize money in his young career, now he is already 36,560 euros. In the world rankings, he jumps at least more than 170 places forward to 376. “It’s so crazy,” said Dedura-Palomero, who is instructed by his parents, both tennis coach. Former professional Philipp Petzschner takes care of him as a national youth coach at the DTB. In the second round he could meet again in the Budik. Whether he dreams of other victories? “That is too far,” he said jagged, “I can’t win these boys regularly.”
Diego Dedura-Palomero, which is called DDP at Tennis insiders, also received praise from Jan-Lennard Struff. Two years ago he trained with Dedura Palomero, said the seasoned 33-year-old professional, “I was thrilled with the intensity he played”. Struff only said: “I wish the boys that they can work with calm and patience.” He included the 17 -year -old Justin Engel from Nuremberg in his short explanation, the Bavarian talent was also allowed to play in the main field on Tuesday thanks to a wildcard. Engel struggled in the first sentence, but lost 4: 6, 1: 6 against the Hungary Fabian Marozsan. Nevertheless, Engel later beamed, “it was a great experience,” he said. “That’s how it is in tennis, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.”
A wise sentence that also applies to Struff. Last year the Warsteiner won the BMW Open and thus an ATP tournament for the first time. Now he lost 0: 6, 2: 6 against the Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo in less than an hour, this season it is not going well for him. “I can do it in training, but as soon as I am on the pitch, it is as if the plug is pulled,” he confessed. “Self -confidence is not there, zero, you can see. I have to try to pull myself out, but it won’t be easy.” Especially since the tournaments are coming in Madrid, Rome and Paris. The 33 -year -old Karlsruher Yannick Hanfmann, on the other hand, celebrated a great success, who defeated the strong Czech Jakub Mensik 7: 6 (4), 4: 6, 6: 3. Mensik, 19, won the Masters tournament in Miami in March and conquered the Novak Djokovic final.