Qualifier Daniel Masur has missed the quarter-finals of the ATP sand court tournament at Rothenbaum in Hamburg. The world ranked 349th from Munich had to admit defeat to the second seeded Diego Schwartzman (Argentina) with 2:6 and 2:6 in his second round game. This makes Wildcard owner Rudi Molleker, who will meet Jozef Kovalik (Slovakia) on Wednesday afternoon, the only remaining German professional in the field.
After 1:21 hours Schwartzmann turned his second match point. On Monday, Masur celebrated his first victory in the main draw of an ATP tournament, beating Maximilian Marterer 6-3, 6-4 in the first round.
The duel on the Centre Court was anything but ideal for Masur. The 23-year-old had to give up his serve right away and was unable to take advantage of three break chances in the game. After that, however, Masur could shorten to 1:2.
Schwartzman, however, the 1.70 meter small player with high class, took advantage of his superiority and was 5:1 in front after a service game won to zero after half an hour. Shortly afterwards, the French Open quarter-finalist took the first round.
In the second act Markus Wislsperger’s protégé held up better, but still had to accept the break to 2:3 – and then missed three chances for immediate equalisation. Schwartzman regained his opponent’s 5-2 serve, winning the final game of the match after Masur sent out a forehand return.
Schwartzman will now face either defending champion Leonardo Mayer or Gael Monfils.
Here the single tableau in Hamburg