Justin Engel, the new jewel of the world tennis who is inspired by Nadal and Djokovic

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The world of tennis is in constant search of talent. The ATP circuit is composed of several generations that shape the present and future of racket sports, and the emergence of young teenagers always captivates the audience. Therefore, when we learned that a 17-year-old boy had won a match this week at the ATP Almaty 2024, all eyes turned to the Kazakh city for answers. Who is Justin Engel? Is he the player of the future?

Only time will tell what his potential is, but Engel possesses several factors that keep us alert. It's not without reason: he became the first tennis player in 2007 to achieve an ATP victory, has already conquered up to four Future titles at just 17 years old, and he is the youngest player to secure a victory on the circuit since Carlos Alcaraz. Power, control, and versatility are displayed in a player still developing, yet grounded with experienced ATP players as mentors.

His father, Horst Engel, introduced him to tennis, but now several names have stepped up to guide him. The first is Alexander Waske, with whom he trains for several weeks in Offenbach, Germany; the second is the well-known Philipp Kohlschreiber, a prominent figure in the German Tennis Federation, who also spends time with Engel to assist him in his transition to professionalism.

Engel has chosen to bypass the junior stage. While many of his peers aim for glory at places like Roland Garros or Wimbledon, the German has succeeded in the Futures: four titles that have positioned him in the top-400. His meteoric rise is attributed to continuous improvement and adaptation, mirroring seasoned professionals. Such is the unwavering faith his team has in him.

"I knew I had the tennis to win matches at the ATP level. I have a great serve, very powerful. Perhaps my best shots are my backhand and serve. I am quite tall and solid from the baseline. However, this year, we have worked hard on various aspects: for example, increasing the percentage of first serves in, hitting with more power and variety, using angles. We focused a lot on leg work to be quicker on the court. Additionally, we emphasized mentality: last year, I had a small issue in this aspect, but it's now resolved," he explains in a conversation with TENNIS, showcasing maturity and composure beyond his years. Especially considering that tennis wasn't his primary passion as a child... another sport held that place.

"When I was young, I practiced kickboxing. I still do. I'm quite good, in fact. It's fun (smiles). I also wanted to be a professional kickboxer, but I ended up choosing tennis because it was safer. I neither loved nor hated tennis until I was eleven, but now I'm glad my father pushed me to become a professional tennis player," Engel remarks. Interestingly, his father coached German player Anca Barna, transitioning from tent-building at festivals to guiding a player who reached #43 in the world.

NADAL AND DJOKOVIC, HIS GREAT INSPIRATIONS

Justin's work ethic is also influenced by two of the greatest legends in this sport. Unfortunately, he will never share a tennis court with Rafa, but with Nole, he hopes to someday. "It has always been very special to see the strength Rafa brought every time he stepped onto the court. In terms of Djokovic, I even bought his book to see everything he ate and more; I wanted to do what he did. I hope he doesn't retire like Rafa; I would love for him to continue playing when I do too, it would be incredible," he says. From mimicking Djokovic's diet and watching Rafa's triumphs on TV to making headlines in the tennis press and winning a match at 17. The German kickboxer is ready to surprise everyone... while we still have many years ahead to discover his true potential. This is Justin Engel.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Justin Engel, la nueva joya del tenis mundial que se fija en Nadal y Djokovic