Coppini Tennis Academy’s Philip Henning claims back-to-back Futures crowns

The 23-year-old Philip Henning from Coppini Tennis Academy embraced two perfect weeks at M15 Futures in Egypt’s Sharm ElSheik. Philip claimed his third Futures title and the second in a row on Sunday, beating the home player Fares Zakaria 6-3, 6-3 in an hour and 32 minutes. Thus, the South African wrapped up a perfect fortnight in Sharm ElSheik, dropping one set in ten encounters and securing a ranking boost. The 5th seed served at 73% and outplayed his opponent behind the first serve. Philip lost serve two times and erased the deficit with a rock-solid performance on the return, doing that for an entire week. Henning turned half of the return points into five breaks from 12 opportunities, controlling the scoreboard and lifting the trophy in style.

Philip Henning, Sharm ElSheik 2024© Federico Coppini

Philip Henning from Coppini Tennis Academy rules in Sharm ElSheik.

Philip made a strong start and grabbed a break in the first game of the encounter. The better-ranked player squandered four game points in game two, losing serve and bringing Zakaria back to 1-1. The Egyptian dropped serve again in the third game after a double fault, propelling the South African 2-1 in front. Henning held at 15 in the fourth game, cementing the advantage and opening a 3-1 gap. Zakaria held at 30 in game five, reducing the deficit and moving 30-15 in front on the return in the next one. Henning stayed focused, taking three straight points and extending the gap to 4-2. The Egyptian fired an ace in the seventh game, holding at 15 and remaining within one break deficit. Philip clinched the eighth game at 15, moving 5-3 up and forcing his rival to serve to stay in the set.

Philip Henning, Sharm ElSheik 2024© Federico Coppini

Fares squandered a game point in the ninth game, experiencing the third break and allowing his rival to clinch the set 6-3 in 44 minutes. Henning faced the ultimate challenge at the beginning of the second set, offering his rival three break points in the first game. The South African stayed calm, denying them and firing two aces to bring the game home in style and gain a boost. They served well in games two and three before Philip stepped in on the return at 2-1.

He secured a break at 15, moving 3-1 in front and closer to the finish line. However, Zakaria pulled the break back in the next game, returning to the positive side and giving everything to stay in touch. The home player denied three break points in the sixth game, locking the result at 3-3. Henning delivered a decisive break at 4-3, forging the advantage and serving for the victory in game nine. Philip wasted two match points at 40-15 before seizing the third, wrapping up another perfect week and lifting his third Futures trophy.