Local hero Maximilian Torterer plays big at the last German ATP-Challenger-Tournament of the year. The 22-year-old from Nuremberg reached the final with a victory over Sebastian Ofner at the Bauer Watertechnology Cup in Eckental, which was endowed with 43,000 euros. There he will have to deal with Jerzy Janowicz from Poland.
By Florian Heer from Eckental
With less than his entry into the semi-finals, Marterer was not satisfied with his last four appearances in the tournament and shone with particular adaptability in terms of playing surface. At the ATP-Challenger-Tournament in Banja Luka, played on sand, he won his first title of the year in mid-September. In a final that was postponed for hours due to bad weather conditions, Marterer beat the young Spaniard Carlos Taberner in two sets.
On his further journey through Eastern Europe, he reached the final round in Sibiu, Romania, where he finally lost to his buddy Cedric-Marcel Stebe. In October we crossed the big pond. He won the hard court tournament in Monterrey, Mexico, without losing the set. A further move into the final four in Fairfield, California, immediately followed.
Now the home game in Eckental, on carpet. At his home tournament, Franke, who was seeded number two, had a hard time at the beginning of the week. Three sets were needed in the first round to bring French qualifier Mathias Bourgue to his knees. The match against Simone Bolelli from Italy was even tighter when the left-hander had to fight off a match ball in the second set and finally won the tennis thriller after 150 minutes with loud support from the audience.
“The audience was the madness, it was so incredibly much fun,”said Marterer afterwards.
On Friday followed a sovereign performance against French #NextGenATP player Corentin Moutet, who arrived in Eckental with an ATP-Challenger tournament victory in his luggage from Brest. Marterer only gave up one game to reach the semi-finals after only 43 minutes – for the fifth time in a row.
Here the young Austrian Sebastian Ofner waited, who came to Franconia with a mixed form, but was able to regain self-confidence with three successive victories. But Marterer was once again in impressive form, serving 10 aces and taking the serve from his opponent three times. After 66 minutes it was 6:4,6:4 for the Nuremberg player who was able to build on his home advantage.
“It’s just so nice to play here. It’s the only tournament I can sleep at home. Friends and acquaintances are in my matches. It just makes me want to come out here every day on the center court.”
In the final game, it is now time to crack a tough nut with Jerzy Janowicz from Poland. The 26-year-old from Lodz prevented a purely German final in Eckental with a 6:7,6:4,6:3 victory over Matthias Bachinger. Janowicz lived up to his reputation as a hard-hitter, fired 16 aces and managed the decisive break in the eighth game of the third set with a wonderful passers-by’s ball. After two hours and 17 minutes, the tournament’s number 7 changed his first match point and tore his hands towards the roof of the hall.
Janowicz reached his first ATP-Challenger final since his triumph in Bergamo at the end of February. On his way to the title, he defeated a certain Maximilian Torterer in two sets. It was the only meeting of the two of them so far. A revenge can now come on Sunday. From 2 p. m. on, the singles final in Eckental will be on its way up. The Local Hero will certainly be able to count on the support of its fans.