The tennis world has a brand new cult hero and his identify is Daniel Altmaier.
The unheralded German broke down in tears after enjoying one of many craziest matches of the 12 months as he got here again from match factors right down to knock out No. 8 seed Jannik Sinner on the French Open on Friday morning.
Altmaier was given a standing ovation as he walked to the microphone for the post-match interview, and the absorbed crowd didn’t let him communicate for an prolonged time frame as they shouted his identify.
When he was lastly in a position to communicate, the 24-year-old broke down in tears another time.
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“I just love the game of tennis, that’s why,” he mentioned in response to the primary query.
His match confirmed in graphic element the agony and ecstasy of tennis.
After 5 hours and 26 minutes of breathless motion, he lastly prevailed 6-7 (0/7), 7-6 (9/7), 1-6, 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 on Court Suzanne Lenglen. It was the fifth longest match within the historical past of Roland Garros.
For Sinner, it was full devastation.
From having two match level alternatives when serving for the match within the fourth set, it should damage Sinner understanding that his quarter of the draw was already broad open.
The unimaginable drama included one rally the place Altmaier saved a match level with a shot that struck the online chord and landed on the correct facet of the court docket.
The wild rollercoaster continued within the remaining set with Altmaier enjoying out of his pores and skin with some freaky winners.
One of his pictures included an acrobatic backhand flick that ended up being an ideal drop shot. It was a hammer blow to Sinner, who thought he had hit a clear winner.
“My god,” tennis journalist Jose Morgado wrote on Twitter.
Another tennis commentator mentioned it was an “absolutely absurd shot from Altmaier”.
That was removed from the tip of it.
The world No. 79 was damaged when serving for the match at 5-4 within the fifth set.
After instantly breaking again, Altmaier noticed 4 match factors come and go.
Sinner even had break level alternatives to tie it up at 6-6.
But Altmaier lastly fell over the end line on his fifth match level — prompting a standing ovation from the gang.
Tennis TV commentator Mark Petchey mentioned it was the “hardest most brutal sport in the world”.
It was for Sinner.
Tennis journalist Carole Bouchard wrote on Twitter: “That hurts. So many chances come and gone, crazy.
Former American tennis player Patrick McEnroe wrote: “So tough for Sinner. And man….gotta love this Altmaier…. Tennis everyone”.
Altmaier was additionally feeling for the Italian and gave him a standing ovation as he left the court docket.
It was one in all many occasions he was overcome with emotion.
“I don’t know if you can call it a historical match, but it was one to remember,” he instructed the gang.
“Playing every point you can with the best effort, that’s what keeps you in reality.”
The longest ever match at Roland Garros stays the six hours and 33 minutes it took Fabrice Santoro to beat fellow Frenchman Arnaud Clement in 2004.
“That’s sport,” mentioned Sinner.
“I’ll come back but it’s tough to swallow.”
Next up is a conflict with Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov for a spot within the final 16.
Source: www.news.com.au
