Tim Gentzsch rallied from a set down to defeat Mick Houkes 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 at the ATP Challenger in Bunschoten. After losing a chaotic first set that featured five breaks in the first five games, Gentzsch raised his serve level and saved all three break points he faced across the final two sets, including both in the decider, to turn the match around.
The opening set saw Houkes edge ahead with breaks in the 1st, 3rd and 5th games, though Gentzsch twice broke back immediately. Houkes held his lead to take it 6-3. In the second set, Houkes broke for 1-2, but Gentzsch broke back at 5-5 to force a tiebreak, which he won to level the match. The decider hinged on a single break: Gentzsch broke at 4-3 and served out the set, holding to love in the final game.
Gentzsch finished with nine aces to Houkes’ five and won 83% of his first-serve points overall (39/47). His serving was particularly dominant in the second and third sets, where he combined for 85% (29/34) of first-serve points won, including 87% in the decider, while saving all three break points he faced in those sets.