Status: 07/29/2023 3:30 p.m
After a strong tournament, 19-year-old Noma Noha Akugue missed another sensation at Hamburg’s Rothenbaum and lost her first final at a WTA tennis tournament.
The Reinbeker, who had surprised more and more from round to round, was beaten 0:6, 6:7 (3:7) in the final of their home tournament on Saturday by Arantxa Rus from the Netherlands, who is 13 years older than her.
But the tears that were in her eyes shortly after the lost game were no longer visible at the award ceremony. When the local hero thanked the audience for their support, she followed with a smile: “I hope I can come back next year and maybe win the tournament. That’s my big goal.”
Noha Akugue only comes into play in the second set
The first three games clearly went to the Dutchwoman. Noha Akugue made numerous forehand errors, which Arantxa confidently exploited. After 13 minutes, the local hero reared up in front of 10,000 spectators for the first time, but she didn’t really find her way into the game and seemed tense and tired at times. After only about 20 minutes she was already 0:5 behind.
Not so nervous in the second set
After the first round she briefly left the field and tried to collect herself. And indeed, the talented left-hander, who received loud support from the stands, managed to win the first game with the second breakball at the start of the second set. She shed her nervousness and the second set was more balanced.
Rus was always ahead, but the world number 207 was not to be shaken off. The North German fended off two match points and fought her way into the tie-break, where her opponent finally got the upper hand.
Up 65 places in the world rankings
The left-hander takes the experiences of her fairytale run near the Alster with her. In addition, there is prize money of 17,590 euros and the jump in the world rankings by 65 places to rank 142.
With the finals of Noma Noha Akugue, who started the traditional event with a wild card, For the first time since Andrea Petkovic in 2021, a German had reached the final in the Hanseatic city. “I see a great future for them,” said tournament ambassador Petkovic, the former world number 9. Steffi Graf achieved the last German victory at Rothenbaum in 1992.
Further information
Tennis has been played at Hamburg’s Rothenbaum for 130 years. Triumphant victories, eternal glory and great drama: A look back at turbulent times in a multimedia documentary. more
Zverev in the semifinals against surprise candidates
Olympic champion Alexander Zverev will face a Frenchman again in the semifinals today. 19-year-old Arthur Fils had surprisingly won 6-0, 6-4 against the top seeded Norwegian Casper Ruud. Zverev prevailed on Friday evening after 89 minutes 6: 3 and 6: 4 against Fil’s compatriot Luca Van Assche.
Further information
The local hero beat Frenchman Luca Van Assche in two sets in the quarter-finals of the tournament in Hamburg. more
April 30, 1993 changed the world of tennis. Seles is stabbed in Hamburg by a mentally disturbed man. She’s still lucky. more
This topic in the program:
Hamburg Journal | 07/29/2023 | 19:30 o’clock
Keywords for this article
Tennis
2023-07-29 13:30:00
#Tennis #Rothenbaum #Noha #Akugue #misses #big #coup #NDR.de #Sports
