“Shymkent has been a good place for me, as I also advanced to the final here last year,” Hanfmann commented. “I felt that it could turn out in a successful way again, as I like the conditions here. My coach Lucas Wolff and I had a great week here and it’s nice to end it with the title.”
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By lifting his second Challenger trophy, following his triumph on home soil at the Wolffkran Open in Ismaning in November last year, Hanfmann takes away $7,200 in prize money as well as 80 ATP ranking points.

“It’s absolutely surreal to me,” Miller said. “It’s the best way that you can start your pro career.”

My hands were on my knees as I stood bent over behind the baseline. After retaining my title in Houston last month, I was choking back tears.

I looked to the sky and pumped my fist as I walked to the net to embrace my opponent, Tennys Sandgren, a first-time finalist who I knew wanted to win his first trophy badly. When I put my head down on his chest, Tennys said something I will never forget.

​“I know our Dads are watching in the crowd.”