Although the twenty-two-year-old German is far from a household name, he continues to make impressive strides on the ATP World Tour.

Last summer Marterer qualified for the Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati, losing in the first round to Frances Tiafoe and after winning three matches in the qualifying event, made his grand slam main draw debut at the US Open. Though he lost in the first round to fellow lefty Donald Young, he did win a set and a new legion of fans.

Due to his outstanding and solid performances last summer and fall, Marterer cracked the top-100 the first week in November. He rode the momentum into 2018 and is currently 4-2 on the season.

Traveling down under for the season’s first Grand Slam event, Marterer’s consistency paid off with direct entry into the main draw. While the women captivated the crowds with hard-fought, immensely competitive matches, Maximilian Marterer was not to be ignored.

The young German defeated former world no.7 Fernando Verdasco in five tantalizing sets. Perhaps mentally, as well as physically spent following that 3 ½ hour battle, Marterer lost in the following round in a tight four-setter to eventual quarter-finalist, Tennys Sandgren.

This past week in Bulgaria at the Sofia Open, Marterer reached the quarters before losing in three to eventual champion, Mirza Basic. The results continue to speak volumes: Marterer has achieved a career-high ranking of world no.78 and with strong performances last year on all surfaces, should continue this upward trajectory.

Although he cites Roger Federer as his childhood idol, Marterer hits a two-handed backhand but like Federer relies heavily on the serve and forehand to put opponents on the defensive.

While his fellow lefty, Rafa Nadal, sits precariously atop the ATP World rankings with Federer closing in, Maximilian Marterer has emphatically announced his presence: there’s a new lefty in town and he’s 6’3” and hungry!