Young Tennis Star Stuns With Historic Victory at BMW Open

MUNICH, Germany (AP) — German tennis player Diego Dedura-Palomero made history on Tuesday by becoming the first player born in 2008 to win a match on the ATP Tour at the BMW Open. In a remarkable turn of events, Dedura-Palomero, 17, secured his spot in the main draw as a lucky loser after losing to Alexander Bublik during qualifiers. He faced off against sixth-seeded Denis Shapovalov, who had to retire from their first-round match while trailing 7-6 (2), 3-0.

Dedura-Palomero celebrated his unusual victory uniquely by drawing a cross in the Munich clay and laying down on it, a gesture he described as a “gesture of gratitude.” He expressed his elation, saying, “I just can’t put it in words right now. I’m just so happy.” The teenager had previously struggled in his career, and this win not only marked a milestone but also significantly boosted his earnings, tripling them to around £31,200.

“I won against Top 100 Mackenzie McDonald, then lost against Bublik. I had bad luck because there were three lucky losers who got in, and I was the fourth one,” Dedura-Palomero recalled. He commended fellow player Gael Monfils, who was kind enough to hug him after withdrawing from the tournament, thus providing Dedura-Palomero this unexpected opportunity.

“I just went in and told myself to, ‘Just have fun, go with the crowd and just play your best tennis,’” he said, emphasizing a positive mindset moving forward.

Meanwhile, Zizou Bergs of Belgium advanced to the next round by edging out Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik with a score of 6-7 (5), 6-4, 7-5. Bergs, currently ranked No. 50, is set to face Dedura-Palomero in the second round. “It’s going to be an exciting match,” Bergs remarked. “I’m looking forward to it.”

Other first-round results at the Munich Open include Argentinian Mariano Navone defeating the No. 3 seed, Felix Auger-Aliassime, 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (3). Navone will face Belgium’s David Goffin in the next round. Additionally, a notable upset occurred when German wild card player knocked out the sixth seed in a grueling match, further showcasing the dynamic nature of this year’s tournament.

Despite the mixed reactions to Dedura-Palomero’s celebration, with some fans expressing discontent over celebrating during an opponent’s injury, respected tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg defended the young athlete’s emotional outburst. “Let the child be hype about a career-changing result!” Rothenberg tweeted in response to critics. “He was up a set and 3-0 before Shapovalov retired, so a victory had been earned when the stoppage came.”