24-year-old Philip Henning fromCoppini Tennis Academyis trying to qualify for his fifth main draw at Challengers. Last week in Lugano, Philip failed to qualify for the main action. The South African is trying to change that at theThionville Open.
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Philip faced Japan'sKaito Uesugiin the first qualifying round and prevailed 6-4, 7-6 in an hour and 39 minutes. The South African collected 14 points more than his opponent and took the pivotal points. Philip faced four break points and gave serve away three times.
He seized 45% of the return points and provided four breaks from ten opportunities. Uesugi led 4-0 and 5-2 in the second set and served for it in game nine. Kaito squandered two set points and allowed his rival to seal the deal in the tie break.
Philip welcomed the rival's backhand error in the first game of the duel for a break and an early advantage. The SouthAfrican secured two fine holds and forged a 3-1 lead. Henning stepped in on the return and grabbed a break in game five that sent himfurther in front.
The 24-year-old held at love in game sixand served for the opener at 5-2. Philip sprayed a forehand error and got broken, bringing his rival one break behind. The Japanese held after a deuce in game nine and reduced the gap to 5-4.
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Henning served for the opener for the second time in game ten. Heproduced a hold at love after the rival's mistake, wrapping up the first part of the duel in 34 minutes.Uesugi denied two break points at the beginning of the second set.
He stepped in on the return in the next one and held after Philip's forehand error for a 2-0 advantage. Not playing well, Henningnetted a routine forehand in the fourth game and found himself two breaks behind.
The South African pulled one break back in game five and held in the next two service games for 3-5. Kaito served for the set in game nine and denied two break points. He saved them and generated two set points. The better-ranked player denied them and kept fighting.
Philip seized the fourth break point with a crafty forehand crosscourt winner, reducing the gap to 5-4 and gaining a boost. The South African painted a backhand down the line winner in game ten for a hold and 5-5. The set went into a tie break, and Uesugi felt the pressure.
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Henning landed a smash winner at the net in the third point and welcomed the rival's forehand error in the next one for 3-1. Philip drew Kaito's mistake with a return in the fifth point to extend the gap. The South African fired two service winners for 6-1 and five match points.
He seized the third with a forced error, making a winning start and hoping for more in the second round.
