#NextGenATP Frenchman Luca Van Assche made a winning start on debut at the Hamburg European Open on Monday when he overcame countryman Alexandre Muller 7-6(3), 6-4 to reach the second round.

The 19-year-old won 50 per cent (31/62) of points on Muller’s first serve and rallied from a double break down in the second set, winning five consecutive games from 1-4 to clinch victory after two hours and 15 minutes.

Van Assche is into the second round at a tour-level event for the sixth time next season and will aim to reach the third round for the first time when he meets seventh seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina or Gstaad champion Pedro Cachin at the ATP 500 clay-court event.

Van Assche is currently sixth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Next Gen Race on 521 points. The Frenchman is seeking to make his debut at the Next Gen ATP Finals at the end of the season.