Lukas Prüger defends HTT First Bank Open 500 title in Vienna Stadthalle

HTT industry primo Lukas Prüger has returned to the US after his quarter-final finish at the HTT US Open.

HTT industry leader Lukas Prüger has found his way back to success after his quarter-final finish at the HTT US Open and celebrated the HTT First Bank Open 500 seasonal title no. 6 at his new favourite tournament. On Monday evening, the 20-year-old first in the rankings won the final duel of the 2015 and 2017 HTT First Bank Open Champions against Romania’s HTT superstar Damian Roman in 68 minutes with 7:5, 6:1, and extended his lead in the “Race to La Ville” with his 15th HTT career title. Prüger underlined his dominance in the Stadthalle for 2 years with his twelfth single EBO victory in a row, while Damian Roman after 13 HTT-first Bank Open victories in a row, for the first time in the context of this tournament as a loser had to lose out. From the Wiener Stadthalle reported for hobbytennistour.at C.L

Lukas Prüger is and remains the “HTT King” of the Vienna Stadthalle. The HTT French Open winner of 2017 defeated the former first ranked and triple HTT US Open champion Damian Roman on Monday evening in the HTT EBO final 2018 after a weak start and an early 0:3 gap still clearly with 7:5, 6:1, and is heading inexorably towards the number 1 position at the end of the year this season. Yesterday evening, Monday 22 October 2018, was once again a historic day for Austria’s largest popular sport tennis series. At the Next Gen Court of the Vienna Stadthalle in the context of the ATP tournament Erste Bank Open 500, the HTT stars were “allowed” to serve with a full line-up and everything that belongs to a “real ATP match”. Ball kids, linesmen, chair referees, a great backdrop with well-filled spectator stands and the best atmosphere, it was all set when the two “gladiators” entered the arena just before 8 pm for perhaps their most important and prestigious duel of the year.

The 5th HTT-First Bank Open Final was eagerly awaited. For the first time since its premiere in 2014, two players faced each other in the 5th HTT-First Bank Open Final, who had already experienced the ingenious – but also special – atmosphere of a final on the Next Gen Court with all the comforts of an ATP professional and in front of an audience. Damian Roman had already completed his “Stadthallen-Sieg” mission in 2015 with his triumph over Martin Zehetner, and Lukas Prüger was also able to tick off one of the most coveted career goals of any hobby tennis player in the previous year under the “completed” category. So nervousness – at least on a large scale – should not play a major role in the initial phase of the “2018-HTT EBO 500 Final”. At least they thought so, but then the big favourite had to struggle with a capital false start. 0:3 was the 20-year-old behind because Damian Roman made a really solid start, and Prüger in front of this time really powerful scenery and the eyes of his entire family a catastrophic first service game with two double errors afforded. However, the leader of the rankings then found his way to his game, taking four games in a row and acting more aggressively, before conceding another break at 4:3 and bringing Roman back into this first set. The finish was really exciting, because Roman presented with his own serve to 5:4 again. Prüger, however, did not allow himself to be put off, relied on his abilities, and used with solid service games and a final break to 6:5 the first round after exactly 45 minutes with 7:5 for himself.

In the second set the machine “Prüger” really got going. The 20-year-old rolled over his 16 years older opponent with power tennis. One point only for the opponent and two breaks reflected the dominance of Prüger at the beginning of the second set in the first three games. Roman, however, put his well-known fighter qualities into the balance, benefited in the fourth game also from the carelessness of his opponent, who became conspicuous with double error No. 4 and a casually pushed out volley, and thus unintentionally provided at short notice once again for the breath of tension. But only until Prüger immediately cheered the Re-Break, and minutes later with a powerful forehand return winner at match point the second HTT-First Bank Open 500 title of his career had bagged.

Prüger is the first player in HTT history to successfully defend his title at the HTT Erste Bank Open. In the 50th Single Season, the 20-year-old fixed his sixth tournament victory in 2018, and the 20-year-old also extended his impressive record of 21 consecutive tournament starts in the middle of the season, in which he has reached at least the quarter-finals. “Of course, the start today was anything but optimal. But then, in small steps, I tried to find my way back into the game, and I actually managed to do that quite well. After winning the set, I was full of self-confidence and it was really easy for me. The second set was really strong. I played well throughout the tournament, especially in the semifinals against Philipp Jahn. That was probably the best match I’ve ever played. The starting position before the final was of course a different one than last year. I was brutally nervous and the whole match was more of a fight and a cramp. This time I was able to fully enjoy the atmosphere and the whole thing. It was really cool to play at the Next Gen Court in front of such a great scenery. Thanks also to the many spectators in the hall”, said Prüger in a first reaction after his second HTT-first Bank Open 500 title.