Justin Engel, a kickboxer who grew to love tennis with time, takes inspiration from Nadal and Djokovic

ALMATY, Kazakhstan—On Monday, Justin Engel became the first player born in 2007 to win an ATP match—and the youngest overall since a 16-year-old Carlos Alcaraz picked up his maiden victory in February 2020—when he defeated Coleman Wong at the Almaty Open.

So it may come as a surprise that tennis wasn’t always in the history maker’s sights.

“I still do kickboxing. I'm pretty good at it,” Engel shares with TENNIS.com. “So yeah, it’s kind of funny. I also wanted to do professional kickboxing, but decided to do tennis because it's much safer.

“I didn't like or I hated tennis till I was 11. But now I'm glad that my father pushed me through all this.”

Engel is in Kazakhstan's largest city this week thanks to the unexpected opportunity afforded to him by tournament organizers. The 17-year-old originally had plans to play qualifying at a Challenger in Italy, before finding out he would instead make his tour-level debut with a main-draw wild card at the ATP 250 event. Given how it all played out, Almaty will forever hold a special place in the German’s heart.

“I was speechless, I mean a wild card in an ATP event just like that. Totally random but I was pretty happy,” he says with a grin. “All the facilities here, the hotel in Almaty, it's been unbelievable. I told my dad already that I want to stay here for two weeks, but of course we need to go back home after. But I’ll try to play this tournament next year because it's so nice here.”

His father, Horst, as you might have picked up on, is a significant influence to the teenager’s tennis trajectory. As son Justin tells it, the elder Engel reacquainted himself with the sport by spending ample time with countrywoman Anca Barna on the court.

“His parents didn't want him to do professional tennis so he got a ‘normal’ job. He built big, wide tents for the festivals. After 10 years, he trained with Anca a lot, hitting balls. One day, she told my dad, ‘we are practicing all day, every day. Why don't you want to be my coach?’ So then my father coached Anca when she was 800[th in the world rankings] and helped bring her to number 43. That’s his story.”

It’s kind of funny. I also wanted to do professional kickboxing, but decided to do tennis because it's much safer... I didn't like or I hated tennis till I was 11. But now I'm glad that my father pushed me through all this. Justin Engel

Throughout his development, which has prioritized pro tournament experience over junior competition, Engel has leaned into various resources. While Horst is his main guiding light, he occasionally trains in Offenbach, Germany with Alexander Waske. When schedules align, Engel links up with fellow Nuremberg native Maximilian Marterer. Munich and Oberhaching have also provided training outlets, along with coaching support from Philipp Kohlschreiber and Lars Uebel through the German Tennis Federation.

“We’ve worked a lot so that I get a higher percentage of the first serve. Getting it a little bit harder, with more angles. And my legs so I get fast on the court,” Engel discloses about his progress, which includes capturing four ITF World Tennis Tour M15 titles in 2024. “Most of the time that I trained, a lot was (on) my mentality. Last year I had a little bit (of a) problem. I fixed it and it's pretty good now.”

When it comes to being mentally resilient, a young Engel was drawn to a pair of iconic champions that have inspired so many kids to go after their own racquet-wielding dreams.

There’s Rafael Nadal, whose approach made a notable impression along with his ball-striking abilities. “The power that he brings on the court was very special to see,” he says.

Novak Djokovic’s athleticism also left an indelible mark on Engel, as did treating his body like a temple. “I bought his book about what he eats and everything, so I also wanted to do like he does,” Engel shares.

When I follow up by inquiring whether he’s been able to match Djokovic’s incredible discipline, Engel cracks a laugh before admitting, “Not close. I try my best, but I mean it's pretty hard. I don't eat so much sugar, almost nothing. But there's also a lot of other things that I need to eat.”

With Nadal set to hang up his racquet at November’s Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, Engel reveals a sadness of never witnessing the Spaniard’s greatness up close in person. Djokovic is still thriving on tour at 37, a tenure the current No. 458-ranked Engel wishes for the Serbian to continue extending long enough for their paths to cross.

“I hope he doesn't retire like Rafa!” he exclaims. “I hope he's still playing when I'm playing. It would be so nice.”