Justin Engel is by far the most prominent player born in 2007. The 16-year-old German is enjoying a breakthrough season, conquering four Futures titles and celebrating his first Challenger win in July in Karlsruhe. The young gun claimed back-to-back Futures crowns at the end of August and the beginning of September, marching closer to a place in the top-500. Justin moved closer to that goal following his second Challenger Tour triumph at the Villena Open. In a battle of two talented youngsters, Engel overpowered the US Open junior champion Rafael Jodar 6-3, 6-3 in an hour and 13 minutes. The 16-year-old served at only 53%, which was not an obstacle. He fired eight aces and claimed 23 of 28 points behind the first serve. The leader of the 2007 generation defended four of six break points and took charge on the return. The Spaniard gave away over half of the points in his games, playing against ten break points and losing serve five times, ending his campaign in the first round.
Rafael Jodar, 2024 Villena Challenger© Stream screenshot
16-year-old Justin Engel is making a name for himself this season.
Justin was off to a flying start, breaking Rafael two times and forging a 4-0 advantage. The home player squandered the advantage in the opening game of the match and faced a break point after a loose forehand. He netted another, losing serve and experiencing an early setback. Engel held in the second game with a service winner and drew the rival’s mistake in the next one for three break chances. The US Open winner added another forced error to his tally, getting broken for the second time and sending the 16-year-old further in front. The German landed an ace in the fourth game, moving 4-0 ahead and generating another break chance in the next one after a deep return that caused the Spaniard’s error. Jodar welcomed the rival’s backhand error, surviving and avoiding a bagel. The younger player landed an unreturned serve for 40-15 in the sixth game before dropping four straight points, netting a routine forehand and dropping serve. Rafael held in the seventh game, reducing the deficit to 4-3.
Justin Engel, 2024 Villena Challenger© Stream screenshot
Justin recovered and held at love in the eighth game with a service winner, opening a 5-3 gap and keeping the pressure on the other side. The German made a push on the return in the ninth game, wasting three set points before converting the fourth with a forced error for 6-3 after 35 minutes. The second set kicked off with back-to-back breaks, and Engel denied a break point at 1-1 to avoid more issues. The Spaniard sent a forehand long in the fourth game, suffering a break and sending the 16-year-old 3-1 in front. The younger player denied two break points in the fifth game with service winners and held after the rival’s backhand error. Jodar reduced the deficit with an unreturned serve in game six and held after a deuce at 2-5 to prolong the battle. Justin served for the win in game nine and held at love, moving over the top in style and celebrating his second Challenger victory at 16.