Bomb-surviving Hazem Naw cracks top-400. Why does it matter?

The 24-year-old Hazem Naw got here to the Koblenz Challenger with 5 qualifying wins. The one Syrian on the ATP rating record certified for the principle draw and delivered his first Challenger wins to notch a spot within the quarter-final.

These factors will propel Naw into the top-400, making one other vital step whereas chasing his dream of competing at Majors. Hazem’s story is inspiring, rising up in war-plagued Syria however retaining dreaming about changing into a tennis professional.

Naw and his brother moved from Aleppo to Damascus, coaching on the courts close to the Russian embassy that drew fixed bomb assaults. Hazem skilled as soon as when the bomb exploded close to the courtroom, hurting his arm and requiring surgical procedure!

The teen was again on the courtroom two days later, keen to increase his tennis journey.

After dwelling in Lebanon for some time, Naw and his brother moved to Cologne, establishing a brand new house in Germany.

Hazem gathered expertise within the Oberliga and Bundesliga, coaching with Oscar Otte, his Koblenz Challenger rival! Hazem earned his first ATP level in January 2021 at 21. His first title got here on the identical occasion a 12 months later, making fixed progress and ending the 2022 season within the top-700.

Naw loved a fantastic run in 2023, passing extra rivals on the ATP rating record and discovering himself within the top-500, setting even greater targets for 2024. The Syrian kicked off the 12 months with the Futures title in Iran earlier than making a reputation for himself in Koblenz.

Hazem Naw will crack the top-400 subsequent week.

Hazem and Oscar battled for 2 hours and 20 minutes, and the Syrian prevailed 2-6, 7-6, 6-4, overcoming a sluggish begin and trailing 5-3 within the second set. Hazem pulled the break again, clinched the set within the tie break and got here from a break down two occasions within the decider to emerge on the prime.

Thus, he booked a spot within the quarter-final and cracked the top-400 for the primary time. It was an uncommon indoor match, with 30 break factors and 15 profitable return video games, eight for Otte. The German received one level greater than his rival, losing his alternatives and ending his run within the second spherical.

The opening set provided 17 break factors, with two rivals struggling to impose their strokes behind the preliminary shot.

They squandered seven break factors within the opening two video games of the encounter earlier than Otte grabbed a break with a smash winner at 2-1 to construct the benefit.

The Syrian transformed the fifth break probability within the fifth recreation, pulling the break again and returning to the constructive aspect. Nevertheless, Oscar clinched two extra breaks in video games six and eight, wrapping up the opener with a lob winner at 5-2.

They traded breaks in the beginning of the second serve and served properly within the subsequent 5 video games, with Otte main 4-3. Naw netted a routine forehand within the eighth recreation, dropping serve and permitting his opponent to serve for the victory at 5-3.

Oscar did not seize his probability, hitting a free forehand in recreation 9 and retaining his rival in competition. The set went right into a tie break, and Hazem clinched it 7-3 with a backhand down the road winner, forcing a decider and gaining a lift.

They traded breaks firstly of the ultimate set earlier than Naw secured one other return recreation with a backhand down the road winner for 3-1. Otte fought again, incomes breaks in video games 5 and 7 and forging a 4-3 lead after Naw’s free forehand.

The Syrian created three break probabilities within the eighth recreation with a backhand down the road winner and transformed the second for 4-4. Hazem moved 5-4 up with a service winner and positioned an ideal drop shot winner within the subsequent one for 2 match factors. Oscar hit a double fault on the primary, dropping serve and pushing his rival excessive.