Germany’s rising tennis star Justin Engel is steadily climbing toward the top of the world rankings. At just 18 years old, the young talent claimed the Challenger title in Hamburg, marking the biggest achievement of his professional career so far.
In the final, Engel defeated world No. 227 Federico Cina of Italy in straight sets, 7-5, 7-6, to secure his first Challenger trophy. Despite the tight scoreline, the German player dominated overall, winning twelve more points than his opponent.
🎾 “Hamburg Is Now My Favorite City”
Sharing his emotions after the victory, Engel thanked the crowd and said:
“It was really incredible. You were amazing throughout the entire tournament. Hamburg is now my favorite city.”
Engel’s success in Hamburg comes as no surprise — back in May 2025, he celebrated his first major ATP 500-level victory at Rothenbaum by narrowly defeating Jan-Lennard Struff.
🏆 A New Career High
The Hamburg triumph propelled Engel 47 spots up the ATP rankings, placing him at No. 188 — the highest position of his career. The young German also became the top-ranked player in the U19 category.
2nd place: Federico Cina (No. 209)
3rd place: German player Diego Dedura (No. 328)
🎯 Next Goal: The Australian Open
Breaking into the top 200 increases Engel’s chances of entering ATP event qualifiers — and possibly reaching the main draws. His participation in the 2026 Australian Open qualifiers now appears well within reach.
