VILLENA, October 6, 2023

After his run to the semi-finals of the ATP Challenger in Tulln in mid September, Maximilian Marterer has reached the stage of the last four at this week’s Alicante Ferrero Challenger. The 28-year-old German edged past US-American qualifier Martin Damm 7-5, 7-5 on Friday.

Marterer withstood 15 aces and broke his rival’s serve three times to secure victory in one hour and 42 minutes. The No. 6 seed will next take on top seed Constant Lestienne. The World No. 107 from France beat Spanish wild card entry Martin Landaluce 6-3, 7-6(5) in one hour and 48 minutes.

In the bottom half of the draw at the €118,000 hard-court event in Villena, Spain, Dennis Novak defeated Elias Ymer of Sweden 6-4, 6-2 in one hour and 24 minutes and will next take on Hugo Grenier. The 213th-ranked Frenchman ended the run of British qualifier Billy Harris, winning 6-3, 6-4. The encounter lasted one hour and 34 minutes.