Daniel Altmaier, ranked 61st globally, pulled off a stunning upset at Hamburg European Open. He defeated the seventh-ranked Andrey Rublev in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, in just 75 minutes.
This victory marks his second tour-level quarterfinal of the season, the first being at Sardegna Open in May.
Rublev’s reputation as one of the best clay players made Altmaier’s win even more surprising. But Altmaier displayed an exceptional performance, serving with precision and hitting powerful groundstrokes.
In contrast, Rublev struggled to find his rhythm, resulting in numerous unforced errors.
For the relatively new ATP Tour player Altmaier, this triumph represents a major breakthrough. Over the past few months, he has shown immense potential, and this win will undoubtedly boost his confidence.
As he advances to the quarterfinals, his next challenge will be against China’s Zhang Zhizhen.
