Yannick Sauer defeats the undercut expert

Stederdorf. He fended off the attack of the experienced players: Stederdorf tennis player Yannick Sauer won the men’s competition at the Elli Oil Open of MTV Stederdorf for the third time in a row. “It was closer than his coach predicted, though,” said tournament director Bastian Wagner. Several local heroes celebrated success at one of the largest performance class tournaments in Lower Saxony. And that was not the only reason Wagner was satisfied: “Great weather, great games – everything went really well,” he said.

Semi-final exit for Daniel Margraff

18-year-old Yannick Sauer lives in Stederdorf, but now plays in league matches in the state and regional leagues for Braunschweiger THC. This year, two other veterans, Alexander Holze (Hildesheimer TV) and Daniel Margraff (Anker Gadenstedt), signed up in the younger men’s division to challenge Sauer. But the youngster kept his nerve. In the final, he defeated Holze, who was 15 years older, 6:4, 4:6, 10:3. “It was a very exciting game, but Yannick had a lot of pressure in his game in the decisive situations,” tournament director Wagner said, congratulating him on his title hat-trick. According to Wagner, Sauer’s coach Daniel Höppner had predicted beforehand that his protégé would not drop a set until he won the title, but it still happened in the final.

In the semifinals, Holze had won the rematch of the 2022 men’s 30 final and knocked out Daniel Margraff. “Alex plays a lot of underspin and flat balls. This style of play doesn’t suit Daniel. “He wasn’t able to develop his top spin pressure as usual,” Wagner analyzed the 7:6, 6:2.

Henning Giere does not give a sentence

The largest field of participants was in the men’s 40s – and the tournament director was pleased with the victory of his team-mate Henning Giere. The top player in the association class for MTV Stederdorf did not lose a single set. “Henning is in very good form. “He hardly makes any mistakes and has a strong serve,” said Wagner. In the final, Giere faced Waldo Nogueira Vazquez (DSV 1878 Hannover), seeded fifth, who had already reached the finals of the Elli Oil Open several times. The tournament director describes his style as follows: “A Spanish clay court player at his best. He really digs himself into the clay.” But Giere had no problems with the defensive strategy. “Henning is also a good runner and builds up a lot of pressure,” said Wagner, explaining the recipe for success.

Played a strong tournament in the men’s 40: Winner Henning Giere from MTV Stederdorf.

Source: Ralf Büchler

The final of the men’s 30s turned into a thriller. Rico Gottschalk from SV Falke Rosenthal won the match tiebreak against Daniel Bruderek (VfL Westercelle) 6:2, 2:6, 10:7. And another victory went to Rosenthal: Rudi Mierse won the mini competition in the men’s 65s with two wins and 4:0 sets.

Feleke shows off his fitness

In the women’s category, a player from TSV Denstorf won the title in the over-30s category somewhat surprisingly and with nerves of steel. Ann-Katrin Thiede defeated the top seed Kerstin Stolzenburg (TC Niddapark Frankfurt, 6:7, 7:5, 10:4) in the semifinals and Andrea Gogolin (MTV Stederdorf, 6:2, 4:6, 10:8) in the final in the match tiebreak. Astrid Bierfreund (TSV Denstorf, women’s 50) and Miriam Polle (MTV Stederdorf, women’s 30) celebrated side-round victories.

However, the biggest surprise from Peiner’s point of view was Haileyesus Feleke from MTV Stederdorf, who made it to the final in the men’s 60s. He eliminated two players with better performance classes along the way. “That was a surprise for everyone, including himself.” “But Haile is a good runner and has done a lot with his fitness,” said Wagner. In the final against the tournament dominator Claus Eberhart (TV GG Ramlingen-Ehlershausen), the Stederdorf player had no chance, losing 0:6, 1:6. His opponent is still playing in the men’s 50s top league and plays a lot of tournaments. “His ground strokes are long and precise and he also goes to the net,” said Wagner, explaining his strengths.

A total of 106 tennis players competed in the Elli Oil Open. In order to pull off the mammoth tournament, MTV got support from TC Florentine Berkhöpen and MTV Vater Jahn Peine, whose facilities also hosted tournament matches. The men’s final attracted the most spectators. The evening event with a Mediterranean buffet was well received, with 45 registrations.

PAZ