The wise one, Andy Murray, knew it first.
At the net after his five-set win over Oscar Otte in the second round of Wimbledon this year, Murray told Otte that the results would come if he kept working hard. Murray was impressed with the German qualifier, who had taken him the distance in a Centre Court thriller.
Otte has proven him right at the 2021 US Open. The 28-year-old, ranked No. 140 in the world, has made a shocking run from the qualifying draw to the Round of 16 behind a big serve and forehand combination. Before this week, Otte had been to the second round of a Grand Slam only twice. He beat Andreas Seppi of Italy in the third round, 6-3, 6-4, 2-6, 7-5, by sealing match point with a massive forehand winner and made it clear how much it meant to him by doing the “hand goggles” sign, borrowed from German soccer player Anthony Modeste, who plays for Otte’s hometown of Cologne.
Otte next faces No. 6-seed Matteo Berrettini in the fourth round. Here are some other things you need to know to appreciate Otte’s storybook US Open.
He barely made it through qualifying
Of the 16 men who won their way into the main draw through the US Open qualifying tournament, Otte had the roughest ride. In both of his first two matches, he fought off match point, got to a third-set tiebreak, and became sick from the intense heat that week. He managed to win both matches anyway—and a third match in three sets to advance to his first US Open main draw.
He’s succeeding despite a fast-food diet
His sister and her husband love Chick-fil-A and Taco Bell. Hey, who doesn’t? In his words, they “force” him to partake when he’s near one. “At night,” he clarified after his Seppi win, "not before a match.”
He got some confidence from an undefeated summer
... on Germany’s club circuit, anyway. Playing the second level of Bundesliga, the national club-level tennis circuit that attracts many professional players, Otte played seven matches and was perfect in singles and doubles, helping to send his team up to the highest level next year.
“I always enjoyed so much to play club matches because a lot of good friends are also on the team,” Otte said. “It helped me a lot, because it was a lot of matches with singles and doubles. It's the only time in the year where you can compete as a team, not alone like the rest of the year. it was on clay, but for me the surface actually doesn't make such a difference because I play the same style no matter which surface.”
He has hit the fastest serve of the tournament.
Otte clocked one at 151 mph in his first-round upset of No. 20 seed Lorenzo Sonego.He next faces No. 6-seed Matteo Berrettini in the fourth round.
