Martin Damm junior, a 22-year-old tennis player from Florida, has been making headlines in the tennis world. He is the son of the former Czechoslovak and Czech tennis player Martin Damm, who was known for his skills as both a singles and doubles player and even won the US Open. Interestingly, both Damm and fellow player Sebastian Korda share a hometown, Bradenton, Florida, and have followed their fathers’ footsteps in the sport.
Damm Jr. had a promising junior career, reaching the number three spot in the ITF rankings and defeating Carlos Alcaraz twice in the semifinals of tournaments, including Wimbledon. However, his professional journey has seen setbacks; after peaking among the top 200 players two years ago, he fell back in the rankings. Recently, though, he has made a comeback and is currently ranked 160th after successfully qualifying for the Australian Open.
In the ATP 250 tournament in Montpellier, Damm faced Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz in the first round. This match marked Hurkacz’s return following the Australian Open. The young American showed significant promise; in a nearly three-hour clash with French player Clement Tabur, Damm showcased his powerful serve with an impressive 36 aces, indicating his strong capabilities on the court.
The match against Hurkacz was anticipated to be a battle of serve skills, and Damm did not disappoint. Both players exchanged break point opportunities in the opening game, keeping the tension high. Despite being ranked lower, Damm put up an impressive fight, forcing the match into two tie-breaks. In the first set, he managed to take the lead, winning it 7-6 (5), which was a significant achievement.
In the second set, Damm continued to impress, holding his ground against Hurkacz’s powerful serves and securing crucial points. Ultimately, he sealed the victory with another tie-break, winning the second set 6-4. This victory knocked Hurkacz, seeded seventh in the tournament, out in the first round, despite Hurkacz having a slight edge in aces, 14 to 13.
Damm’s performance at the tournament signifies not only a personal victory but also showcases his potential to ascend in the world of tennis, while Hurkacz is set to compete next in the ATP 500 Rotterdam tournament. The emerging rivalry and resurgence of talents like Damm enrich the competitive landscape in men’s tennis.