Pepperdine University Athletics

HONORS & AWARDS
WCC Second Team (Singles) — 2025
2025 Pacific Coast Men's Doubles Championship Finalist
WCC Doubles Team of the Week — 2/4/25
Preseason Top-20 ITA Newcomer — 2025

PEPPERDINE 2024-25: Had a promising freshman season by earning All-WCC Second Team honors in singles ... Led the team with a 16-6 record in singles and a 17-5 record in doubles during dual match play ... Formed a reliable doubles team with Aleksa Pisaric and went 17-5 at the third position, including a 10-match win streak early in the season ... Ended the year on a six-match win streak in singles ... Beat Mathias Ponce De Leon of Alabama in straight-sets to help the Waves reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament ... Was the only Wave to win multiple matches in the WCC Men's Tennis Tournament ... Beat WCC Freshman of the Year Adrien Berrut of San Diego in three sets during the WCC Championship ... Also beat Lukas Maskow in straight-sets to help Pepperdine sweep No. 70 Santa Clara in the semifinals ... Went 4-1 against WCC opponents ... Picked up his first ranked win with a 7-6 (4), 6-2 victory over No. 123 Max Westphal of Columbia to help Pepperdine upset the ninth-ranked Lions ... Won eight matches in a row from Feb. 17 to March 30 — all of which were in straight-sets ... Beat UT Arlington's Andres Medus 6-1, 6-2 for his first collegiate singles win ... Named an ITA Preseason Newcomer to Watch ... Also made the 2025 Pacific Coast Men's Doubles Championship final with Aleksa Pisaric.

JUNIORS: Had a career-high juniors ranking of 33 and was ranked as high as No. 1 in the U18 rankings ... Was the U18 German National Champion in singles and doubles ... Won seven ITF juniors doubles titles ... Biggest wins include a J300 doubles title in Charleroi-Marcinelle, a J200 doubles title in St. Poelten and a J200 doubles title in Bratislava ... Also won a M15 doubles title in Casablanca with Hayato Matsuoka this summer for his first pro tournament title ... Played in Junior Wimbledon and the main draw of the US Junior Open Championships.

PERSONAL: Son of Katja and Ralf Poertner ... Has two siblings, Emmy and Tony ... Plans on majoring in international business ... Career goal is to become a professional tennis player ... Chose Pepperdine because of the coaches, location, facilities and people.

FAVORITES: Enjoys playing soccer, grilling and spending time with friends outside of playing tennis ... Lists Kobe Bryant as his sports hero ... Enjoys tennis because of "the mental strength needed and just playing the game" ... Favorites include Felix Auger-Aliassime (pro tennis player), VfB Stuttgart (pro sports team), Alabama Moon (book), Gladiator (movie), Pashanim (musical artist) and soccer (sport besides tennis).