First ATP player born in 2008 marks debut with win in Munich
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Germany's Diego Dedura-Palomero celebrates after Canada's Denis Shapovalov retires from his round of 32 match at the Munich Open.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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MUNICH – Diego Dedura-Palomero became the first player born in 2008 or later to take part in an ATP Tour match on April 15, when he stunned eighth seed Denis Shapovalov of Canada to reach the last 16 at the Munich Open.
Born on March 12, 2008, the German teenager is ranked 549th in the world.
Added to the main draw as a lucky loser after the withdrawal of French veteran Gael Monfils, the 17-year-old was leading 7-6 (7-2), 3-0 up when his opponent retired hurt.
“I can’t believe it and can’t put it into words. I’m so happy. I told myself – Just have fun, enjoy the atmosphere. This is crazy. I want to thank my mum, who’s watching at home, and my brother,” Dedura-Palomero said on court after the match.
His elation was in stark contrast to the emotions of the 2024 winner and his compatriot Jan-Lennard Struff, who was thumped 6-0, 6-2 by Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo earlier in the day.
“The confidence isn’t there, zero. As soon as I get out on the court I feel like the power has been cut,” Struff said.
Meanwhile, Alexander Zverev’s bid to complete a hat-trick of titles continued to gain pace on April 16.
The top seed prevailed 6-3, 6-2 in an all-German battle against Daniel Altmaier. Zverev will hope to maintain his form in the quarter-finals on April 18, when he faces either Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor or German wildcard Yannick Hanfmann.
In women’s tennis, Britain’s Harriet Dart has apologised for saying her opponent, Lois Boisson, “smells really bad” during her comprehensive defeat at the Rouen Open on April 15.
Dart, who lost 6-0, 6-3, was captured on the broadcast asking the umpire to tell Boisson to use deodorant, during a second-set changeover.
“Can you ask her to put on deodorant? She smells really bad,” she was heard saying to the official as she struggled against the 21-year-old Frenchwoman in the first round.
The comment sparked an immediate backlash on social media, prompting Dart to address the incident on Instagram.
“It was a comment made in the heat of the moment and I truly regret it. It’s not the way I want to behave and I take full responsibility. I have a lot of respect for Lois and the way she competed today. I’ll learn from this and move on,” Dart wrote.
Boisson, who was already out on court while Dart was still seated, appeared to be out of earshot when the Briton made her remark.
The victory was a stunning upset for the 303rd-ranked Boisson, making her first WTA Tour appearance following injury, against the 62nd-ranked Dart, who failed to convert any of her six break points and dropped her serve four times. AFP, REUTERS
