Philipp Fedorczuk at the April-Challenger with a fabulous HTT debut

Young star Philipp Fedorczuk made his HTT debut in the “Concert of the Great” with a…

Young star Philipp Fedorczuk made his HTT debut in the “Concert of the Great” and won his first tournament of the general class at the April-Challenger in UTC La Ville. The 13-year-old beat his friend and training partner Noah Castillo 3:6, 7:5, 6:3 after 2:08 hours of play on Wednesday afternoon in a high-class and extremely exciting final, and prolonged the now unbelievable dominance of the HTT teenagers in the first quarter of the year. Fedorczuk perfected a dozen teen titles in the 24th season. Meanwhile, for Noah Castillo, his second HTT career finale also ended a series of successes worth seeing. C.L reports from the UTC La Ville

Wherever and whenever Philipp Fedorczuk appears on the hobby tennis tour, his performances are crowned with success. 2016 in retrospect: A then 11-year-old Bürscherl tackles the junior competition of the HTT French Open and storms into the finals of the first Junior HTT Grand Slam tournament of the Open era with four victories. There he duelled at the highest level for over two and a half hours with 13-year-old Mariam Karadzhaeva from Russia before receiving the biggest trophy of his life. Even then Fedorczuk made his first acquaintance with the great HTT, because at the final award ceremony there was a shakehands with none other than the then HTT ranking first Damian Romanian. So almost two years later there was a reunion with the former HTT Junior French Open Champion, and his final appearance on Wednesday afternoon had some parallels to his first great career triumph two years ago. Again Fedorczuk was allowed to get to the centre court, again there were three sets to master in the final after losing the first round before the victory was certain, and again “Fed” had exactly 102 points on the credit side in the final, before he broke out in cheers.

Fedorczuk’s HTT debut at the 12th edition of the April-Challengers was very impressive. During his matches against Sascha Kogler, Trivun Djumic, Martin Priban and Alexander Rieger, the 13-year-old knew how to convince both fiercely and playfully before finishing his HTT premiere in fairy-tale style in the final. The two young stars training with Michael Oberleitner in the Tennispro Academy offered the spectators in the sixth pure teenager final of the season a sometimes furious exchange of blows, which could not have ended more tightly and excitingly. 102:101 points was the match statistic in favour of the winner, who at first had his difficulties against a self-confident and superbly playing opponent at the sun-drenched centre court under once again splendid external conditions. Castillo started into the final with the self-confidence of his last 9 victories on Challenger level in series and his first career title won at the February Challenger, and with an early break in the first set in front playing away. In this phase, the 14-year-old from the Dominican Republic demonstrated impressively what fantastic tennis he is now capable of. In combination with a very erroneous opponent, Castillo even led 5:1 in the meantime, before Fedorczuk started a short chase to catch up. At 5:2, the February Challenger Champion stumbled for the first time on his own serve when he took the first break to 3:5 at 0:40 due to his first double mistake. Castillo kept his nerve, however, unlike in many matches and tournaments of the past, and after 32 minutes the 14-year-old from CTP Pötzleinsdorf had secured the 1-0 set lead with another break to zero.

In the second set, both players get their service games through to 2:2 before a real break orgy sets in at the UTC La Ville centre court. 7 breaks produced in series, Noah & Philipp stand 6-5 in the second set for Fedorczuk in front of the twelfth game, which the 13-year-old uses with a forehand error of his opponent in the set ball to the set match after another 56 minutes. In the all-important third set, Fedorczuk always has a slight advantage, at least in terms of results. The later winner manages both the first break to 1-0, as well as the break to 3-2, with which he predecides the final. Because immediately afterwards he confirms this break to 4:2, and when he also makes clear with a targeted smash on the line another break to 5:2, the last doubts of his parents sitting in the audience have vanished. After 2:08 hours of play, breaks 16 and 17 seal the 3:6, 7:5, 6:3 success of Philipp F., who became the 452nd tournament winner of the Open era with his debut triumph, and, as already mentioned, further polished the track record of the HTT teenagers in 2018. In 25 seasonal tournaments with 50 places in the final, the 13 to 19 year old HTT stars have conquered exactly half of all final places (25). An impressive proof of the current strength of the HTT youth who, in the person of Philipp Fedorczuk and Noah Castillo, also expressed themselves at the final press conference on the defeated final.

“I am very happy, because a long time without tournament victory lies behind me. Against such a strong opponent as Noah this afternoon it’s twice as much fun. I found my performance throughout the tournament very good and I am pleased to be able to sit here now as tournament winner. I tried to play my tennis, be aggressive before the string of my racket broke. Then I had to move and act with high balls and more spin. In the end, however, this tactic worked,” beamed the winner. Noah Castillo celebrated 9 victories at Challenger level before yesterday’s final, a great series that ended against his friend and training buddy Philipp Fedorczuk of all teams. “It was hard to lose here. I beat Philipp in practice too, but he played a strong match today, while I was annoyed too much and for too long in the second set. Actually, I could have won, but the bat tore even mine, and with the new and heavier racket, I somehow lost the rhythm,” said the underdog, who nevertheless made enormous progress in the last few months. “I practiced a lot forehand with my coach, and he also gave me a chance to play more offensively and get more on the net. Actually I don’t like Sand so much, but I can be very happy with the performance here at the April Challenge,” said Castillo, who admitted to having thought a little about his winning streak. “Before the match, I was pretty sure I could win the 10th serial victory, but during the match I didn’t have the series in my head, but it would have been cool to win the 10th,” said Castillo, who climbed to position 162 in the latest HTT entry ranking.