ATP: Philipp Kohlschreiber wins first marathon in Rome

Philipp Kohlschreiber has reached the second round of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Rome: After more than three hours, the German experienced player defeated Karen Khachanov 7:5, 6:7 (7) and 7:6 (6).

Professional tennis player Philipp Kohlschreiber is in the second round of the ATP Masters in Rome after a marathon match. In his opening match in Foro Italico after 3:08 hours, the 34-year-old from Augsburg won 7:5, 6:7 (7:9), 7:6 (8:6) against the 13-year younger Russian Karen Khachanov.

Phlipp Kohlschreiber shook his hand again at 5-4 in the second set. And so the German number two in his opening match at the Italian Open 2018 had to accept not only the re-break but also the loss of the second set.

In the decision Kohlschreiber had the better chances as a setback, but again the tiebreak had to come: Khachanov fended off Kohlschreiber’s two match points and missed a good chance to take the lead at 6:6. After 3:05 hours and a grueling rally, which Khachanov finished with a ball into the net, the Augsburg native was pleased about his victory.

Before Kohlschreiber, Peter Gojowczyk (Munich) had also reached the second round. Third German in the main field of the sand court tournament endowed with more than five million euros is the newly crowned Madrid winner Alexander Zverev (Hamburg), who is also defending the title in Rome. The tournament is the last endurance test before the French Open in Paris (from 27 May).

In the second round, Kohlschreiber now has another task to solve: he will face Jack Sock from the USA, whose 2018 season did not go according to plan. After all, Sock’s young father defeated David Ferrer in two sets. Kohlschreiber lost to the Spaniard at the Davis Cup in Valencia after a marathon match.

Here the single tableau of the men in Rome