Qualifier Ignacio Buse caused an upset by defeating defending champion Flavio Cobolli in straight sets at the Hamburg Open in Germany. Buse, who is having a breakthrough season on the ATP Tour, displayed a strong performance to beat world No. 12 Cobolli 6-2, 7-5 in a match that lasted over 90 minutes. The 22-year-old Peruvian did not allow a single break point against the defending champion, securing only his second career victory over a Top-20 opponent.
“I knew I could win. The level is very similar, and if I have a good day, I think I could compete. I tried to go out convinced, and it worked. I think I played very good. I was very comfortable. Flavio didn’t have a great match, but it’s difficult to play these matches against the top players. I’m very happy with the win, but I have to prepare for tomorrow now,” Buse said after his impressive victory.
Currently ranked a career-high No. 57 in the ATP Rankings, Buse has been establishing himself as a formidable clay-court player this season. With 15 of his 16 tour-level victories coming on clay, including a semifinal appearance in Rio de Janeiro, the Peruvian is set to face Jakub Mensik in the second round at Hamburg. Meanwhile, for Cobolli, this defeat marks a disappointing end to his title defense ahead of the French Open, with a projected slip to No. 14 in the live ATP rankings.
Top seed Felix Auger-Aliassime also started his Hamburg Open campaign on a positive note, overcoming a slow start to secure a 7-5, 6-1 victory against Czech player Vit Kopriva. The Canadian, who had concerns over a leg issue after his recent loss in Rome, showed sharpness and aggression from the baseline to seal the win in 84 minutes. Auger-Aliassime expressed his satisfaction with the victory, emphasizing the importance of every win on the challenging tour.
Ranked world No. 5, Auger-Aliassime has been successful in tournament openers, winning 14 of his last 16 first-round matches since August last year. Up next, he will face American lucky loser Aleksandar Kovacevic, who advanced to the main draw by defeating Arthur Gea 6-2, 7-6(3).
