The 17-year-old, who turns 18 in October, delivered a composed and confident performance on Thursday to defeat seventh-seeded American Alex Michelsen 6-4, 6-4. With that win, Engel not only advanced to the last eight in Stuttgart but also carved out a place in the history books as the youngest quarterfinalist at the tournament — and the youngest man to make the quarterfinals at any ATP grass event since Boris Becker’s legendary Wimbledon triumph in 1985.
His quarterfinal clash against Canada’s Félix Auger-Aliassime on Friday will mark another milestone in what has already been a breakout season.
Meteoric Rise in the Rankings
Engel’s rapid ascent over the past year has drawn increasing attention from the tennis world. Just 12 months ago, he was ranked outside the top 800. As of the start of 2024, he stood at No. 1,344 in the ATP rankings. Following his Stuttgart run, he is now guaranteed a spot in the top 250 — a remarkable jump that underscores his steady progress and growing consistency across surfaces.
Multi-Surface Breakthrough
Beyond the Stuttgart results, Engel achieved another notable distinction this week. He became the second youngest player since 1990, behind only Rafael Nadal, to win matches on all three major surfaces — hard court, clay, and grass — at ATP Tour level.
This versatility, rare for players of his age and experience, has further solidified Engel’s reputation as one of the sport’s rising stars.
While comparisons to Becker and Nadal are premature, Engel’s poise and all-court maturity suggest a player with the tools and temperament to compete at the highest levels in the years ahead.
As he prepares for his biggest test yet against Auger-Aliassime, tennis fans — particularly in Germany — will be watching closely to see whether Engel can continue his impressive run and extend what has already been a historic week in Stuttgart.