MUNICHEN – Diego Dedula Palomelo marked tennis in multiple ways on Tuesday.
The 17-year-old German became the first player to win a match on the ATP Tour in 2008, celebrating the feat with a unique celebration.
His opponent, Dennis Shapovalov, retired when he chased 7-6 (2) and 3-0 in the first round match at the BMW Open, when Dedura-Palomero used his feet to scrape off a Munich clay cross and lay on top of it.
Dedura-Palomero said in a comment that he was “very religious” and reported by the German news agency DPA that the celebration was a “gesture of gratitude.”
According to the ATP, only four players have won the famous Munich tournament before, than Dedula Palomero, including 16-year-old Boris Becker in 1984. The most recent one was Dinu Peskaliu from Romania.
Dedura-Palomero was not even intended to play on Tuesday. The Berlin-born teenager had lost in qualifying to Alexander Babrik, but had a place in the main draw when Gale Monphills retreated. After a victory against eighth seed Shapovalov, Dedula Palomero continues to play Zizou Bergs in the second round.
2-Augasim Jan-Lennard Struff. 7-6, 4-6, 6-3