Bremer Schlussel RD1: Rapp Carries German Flag Into Round Two

Valentin Rapp was able to secure an opening day win at the Bremer Schlussel in Bremen, Germany, making sure that there will be two Germans in the second round of the Challenger 10 level competition at ULC Sportwelt.

After a slew of late changes to the draw, Rapp’s opponent changed, and he took on Colombia’s Nicolas Serna in the first round of the tournament, and he was in complete control throughout.  He needed just 26 minutes on court to get the job done, dropping 14 points across the three games played. Rapp won 11-4, 11-4, 11-6 to move through to the last 16, where he will now face No.2 seed Mazen Gamal.

The other home hope in the second round is Yannik Omlor, after the No.5 seed received an opening day bye. He will now face David Zeman in the second round of the event, after the World No.174 defeated compatriot Marek Panacek, who had claimed his maiden Tour title just 24 hours earlier in Ostrava, in a four-game battle.

England’s James Peach, who Panacek defeated in that final on Sunday afternoon in the Czech Republic, also caused a seeding upset on the first day in Bremen, as he defeated Irishman Sam Buckley. Despite the seedings, Peach actually ranked higher than his opponent coming into the match, but still needed to go the distance, winning the fifth game 11-9 to advance through to the last 16 of the competition.

Stuart MacGregor and Elliott Morris Devred added to the British hopes that made it through to the second round, with Italy’s Yuri Farneti, Colombia’s Andres Herrera and the Czech Republic’s Viktor Byrtus also making their way into the last 16 in Bremen.

The second round of the Bremer Schlussel will take place at ULC Sportwelt in Bremen, Germany on Tuesday, August 9, with the seeded players coming into the draw. All the action from Bremen will be shown live and free on the PSA Challenger Tour YouTube channel, and you can keep up to date with live scores on the PSA World Tour’s website.

First Round Results: Bremer Schlussel
Viktor Byrtus (CZE) bt [WC] Miko Aijanen (FIN) 3-1: 4-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-4 (38m)
James Peach (ENG) bt Sam Buckley (IRL) 3-2: 9-11, 11-6, 13-11, 8-11, 11-9 (69m)
David Zeman (CZE) bt Marek Panacek (CZE) 3-1: 11-5, 5-11, 11-7, 11-5 (42m)
Yuri Farneti (ITA) bt Vini Rodrigues (BRA) 3-1: 9-11, 11-7, 11-2, 12-10 (48m)
Elliott Morris Devred (WAL) bt [WC] Heiko Schwarzer (GER) 3-0: 11-3, 11-6, 11-4 (23m)
Stuart MacGregor (ENG) bt Edwin Clain (FRA) 3-1: 12-10, 11-6, 11-13, 11-4 (54m)
Andres Herrera (COL) bt [WC] Felix Gobel (GER) 3-: 11-5, 11-6, 9-11, 11-2 (40m)
Valentin Rapp (GER) bt Nicolas Serna (COL) 3-0: 11-4, 11-4, 11-6 (26m)

Second Round Draw: To Be Played Tuesday, August 9
[1] Bernat Jaume (ESP) v Viktor Byrtus (CZE)
James Peach (ENG) v [6] Robert Downer (ENG)
[5] Yannik Omlor (GER) v David Zeman (CZE)
Yuri Farneti (ITA) v [4] Balazs Farkas (HUN)
[3] Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) v Elliott Morris Devred (WAL)
Stuart MacGregor (ENG) v [7] Jakub Solnicky (CZE)
[8] Joeri Hapers (BEL) v Andres Herrera (COL)
Valentin Rapp (GER) v [2] Mazen Gamal (EGY)