World no. 345 Philip Henning, who trains at Coppini Tennis Academy, certified for the fifth Challenger occasion of his profession. Philip fauled to realize that in Lugano final week. The South African modified that on the Thionville Challenger, beating two rivals and coming into the principle draw.
Henning confronted the 23-year-old Frenchman Lilian Marmousez within the second qualifying spherical and earned a 6-2, 7-6 victory in an hour and 46 minutes. The previous Georgia Bulldogs standout had the higher had within the first set and clinched ten of the opening 13 video games.
Nevertheless, he dropped serve 4 occasions in a row within the second set and trailed 5-4. The South African pulled the break again to increase the set and denied three set factors at 3-6 within the tie break to emerge on the high.
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Lilian served at 52% and struggled behind the second serve. He dropped virtually half of the factors in his video games and gave serve away 4 occasions from ten possibilities introduced to his opponent. Philip denied 5 of seven break factors and prevailed within the pivotal moments of the second set.
The South African produced two effective holds firstly of the duel. He welcomed the rival’s double fault at 2-1 to seize a break and transfer in entrance. Philip held for 4-1 and saved two break factors within the seventh sport to maintain his preliminary shot intact.
Philip Henning, 2025 Thionville Challenger© Stream screenshot
Marmousez served to remain within the set at 2-5 and confronted 4 set factors. The Frenchman saved three earlier than the South African seized the fourth after the rival’s drop shot error for 6-2 in 41 minutes. Henning clinched a break within the second sport of the second set and lengthen the hole.
The higher-ranked participant served properly in video games three and 5, transferring 4-1 in entrance with an ace down the T line. The South African missed a sport level at 4-2 and sprayed a backhand error to lose serve and produce his rival again to the optimistic aspect.
Philip Henning, 2025 Thionville Challenger© Thionville Challenger
Lilian made one other push on the return in sport 9 and seized the fourth break level with a pressured error to rattle off the fourth straight sport. The Frenchman served for the set at 5-4 and suffered a break at 15 after a forehand pressured error.
The set went right into a tie break, they usually traded 4 mini-breaks within the opening six factors. Marmousez landed a drop shot winner at 5-3 to generate three set factors. Philip saved them, the third with a artful winner on the internet for 6-6 and extra drama.
The South African handed his rival on the internet with a backhand crosscourt winner for 7-6 and a match level. He transformed it after the rival’s forehand error, sealing the deal and transferring into his fifth principal draw at Challengers.
