Coppini Tennis Academy player Philip Henning conquered his fifth Futures title of the season at last week’s M15 Yanagawa City event in Japan. Philip entered the draw as the top seed and toppled five rivals, prevailing in two tight sets and dropping only nine games in the remaining eight, lifting the trophy without losing a set. The 23-year-old South African earned 15 ATP points and passed 30 rivals on the ATP Race list, cracking the top-370 and moving closer to a career-high position.
Henning makes a winning start in Yanagawa City
The top seed started the action against the home player, Ko Suzuki, and scored a 7-5, 6-1 victory in an hour and 16 minutes. Philip played better behind the first and second serve, dropping serve two times in the opening set and converting over half of the return points into six breaks from ten opportunities. Henning denied two break points in the second game of the encounter, avoiding an early setback. The Japanese made another push on the return in the fourth game, earning a break at 15 and opening a 3-1 gap. Ko played well in those moments and held at 15 in game five for a massive 4-1 advantage.
Philip Henning© Coppini Tennis Academy
Philip closed the sixth game after a deuce with an ace, pulled the break back in the next one and landed an ace in game eight for 4-4 and a boost. The South African seized the second break point in the ninth game, extending his streak and serving for the opener. Suzuki made one last push on the return in the tenth game, breaking the top seed at love and locking the result at 5-5. Philip kept his composure, delivering another break in the 11th game and wrapping up the opener with a hold at 6-5. The South African held at love in the second game of the second set, clinched a break at 1-1 and fired two aces in game four to cement the advantage. The top seed rattled off 20 of the final 22 points, breaking his rival in games five and seven and sailing over the top.
Philip reaches the quarter-final
The South African faced Riku Takahata in the second round and enjoyed a great day at the office, toppling the home player 6-0, 6-2 in an hour and sailing into the last eight. Philip served at 74% and performed well behind the first and second serve, denying both break points and mounting the pressure on the other side. Takahata stood miles behind those numbers, losing 60% of the points in his games and suffering five breaks from six chances offered to the top seed. Henning needed 25 minutes to provide a bagel in the opening set. He broke at love in the first game of the encounter and gathered a boost, taking all six games for a flying start. Philip clinched another break in the third game of the second set and saved two break points in the next one for a 6-0, 3-1 advantage. Riku missed a game point in the fifth game, suffering another break and falling further behind. Henning served well in games six and eight, moving over the top in no time and reaching the last eight.
Philip Henning© Stream screenshot
The top seed notches the semi-final
The South African produced another rock-solid performance against the 17-year-old Shion Itsusaki, ousting the young gun 6-1, 6-3 in 57 minutes en route to the semi-final. Henning imposed his strokes and dominated on serve and return to celebrate another comfortable victory. Philip landed eight aces and lost ten points in eight service games, facing no break points and challenging a teenager to repeat those numbers to stay competitive. Shion made a slow start and improved his game in set number two. The Japanese dropped half of the points in his games and suffered four breaks from six opportunities offered to the more experienced opponent. Henning rattled off the opening four games of the match and secured the first set with another break in game seven. The South African built a 3-0 advantage in the second set and served well until the end, sailing over the top and remaining on the title course.
Philip Henning© Stream screenshot
Henning books a place in the final
Feeling the good vibes, Philip notched another impressive victory, ousting the 3rd seed Yuta Kawahashi 6-0, 6-1 in 52 minutes and racing into the title clash. Henning lost 14 points in seven service games, facing one break point and losing serve, missing a chance to deliver a double bagel! Yuta served at 77% and drew nothing from that, taking only 12 points in his games and suffering six breaks from 11 chances given to Philip. The top seed made a flying start, taking all six games of the opening set for a bagel in 27 minutes. The South African extended his streak and forged a 4-0 advantage in the second set before losing serve in the fifth game, bringing the Japanese to the scoreboard. Henning grabbed eight of the final nine points, emerging at the top and entering the final.
Philip Henning, Sharm ElSheik 2024© Federico Coppini
Philip claims his fifth Futures title of the season
The Coppini Tennis Academy star faced another Japanese in the final, with Yuta Kikuchi standing between himself and the title. Henning scored a 7-6, 6-1 victory in an hour and 36 minutes, prevailing in the opener and dominating set number two en route to his fifth Futures crown of the season. Philip dominated with his first serve and lost serve once from five chances offered to Yuta. The top seed grabbed almost half of the return points and turned them into three breaks from six chances. The South African had an early lead in the first set before losing it in the eighth game. They served well in the next four games to introduce a tie break, and Henning claimed it 7-1 for a massive boost. Henning served well in the second game and rattled off five games at 1-1, breaking his rival two times and sailing over the top to lift the trophy.
