The twenty-three-year-old German with a wicked, lefty serve, defeated the versatile, French veteran, Jeremy Chardy 6-4, 7-6 to reach the finals at the Stowe Mountain Lodge Classic. Marterer continued to impress on the stadium court on an overcast day in idyllic Stowe, Vermont.

Having reached a career-high ranking of #45 earlier this month, Marterer is hoping to use this time in Stowe to prepare for the last grand slam of the year which begins on August 27th at the BJK National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York.  

Jeremy Chardy of France, currently ranked #46, is no stranger to the hard courts at the US Open. He has played in NY the last nine years and reached the fourth round in 2015. Both players were hoping to gain confidence in Stowe heading into the US Open since both events are played on Deco-Turf.

Youth versus experience and lefty versus righty typically makes for an interesting and entertaining match. This semi-final encounter did not disappoint. Both came to play as $5000 and a spot in the final was on the line.

The Frenchman served first and big. The German reciprocated in his first service game holding at love. Chardy held for 2-1 with an ace but Marterer faced triple break point in the following game as Chardy hit a brilliant let cord volley winner and Marterer committed two unforced errors. The German held firm and following three penetrating second serves and a blistering forehand down the line, saved three break points and held for two all.

They remained on serve thru six games but in the seventh, it was Chardy’s turn to face a break point following a netted volley and wide forehand. He was unable to summon the first serve he desperately needed as he threw in his first double fault to lose the game. Marterer consolidated the break with an amazing cross-court forehand winner in addition to a cross-court backhand volley winner.

Chardy was determined to hold and force the youngster to serve out the set and did he ever! He opened with a scintillating forehand winner down the line followed by two consecutive aces. The pressure now was squarely on Marterer as he stepped up to serve for the set. Although he missed an easy smash into the net, he gathered himself and executed a difficult stab forehand volley winner and then an ace to secure the first set 6-4.

Chardy served first in the second set and held easily as did Marterer in his first service game. The German, despite facing a break point in the fourth game, held with clutch serving including two aces. The Frenchman did not fare as well in the following game where once again he double-faulted on break point to lose the game. Although he hit his third double fault in the seventh game, Chardy managed to hold for 3-4 when Marterer’s forehand sailed wide.

Marterer faced some pressure serving up 4-3 as Chardy passed him at the net and on the next point, overcooked a forehand. Down 0-30, the German regrouped and threw in three huge serves to hold and go ahead 5-3 just four points from the final.

Once again, it was up to the veteran Chardy to make the young German earn the victory and despite facing triple match point and three deuces, held for 4-5. It was an enthralling and mesmerizing ninth game that witnessed great court coverage and versatility from both players. The opening point of the game included an outstanding drop shot which Marterer ran down and eventually passed Chardy with a breathtaking cross-court forehand winner that even Chardy applauded. The crowd continued to applaud both players for several minutes and this was just the first point of the game!

The German was now just four points from the final, but the Frenchman refused to yield. Buoyed by his amazing hold the previous game, Chardy continued to apply the pressure and Marterer cracked. Chardy struck a lethal return off a second serve to create his third break point of the game and on the following point ripped a forehand down the line to break and level the set at five games all.

Chardy showed his experience and held easily for 6-5 after hitting two aces and two unreturnable serves. Marterer would have to hold to force a tie-breaker and he did but it was a colossal struggle as he faced two break points and four deuces. The serve, especially the second serve repeatedly paid dividends for Marterer. Chardy served first in the tie-breaker and they remained on serve thru seven points as the Frenchman once again double-faulted to give Marterer the mini-break. Now up 5-3, Marterer unloaded on an exquisite passing shot to give himself three match points but he needed just one as he struck another astonishing forehand passing shot to claim victory and a spot in the final.