Yannick Hanfmann in Santiago: At 34, the Karlsruhe native matures into his first ATP finalist – and now goes for the title

It's moments like these that make the tennis summer sizzle, even away from the grass courts. While Alexander Zverev is already celebrating his next title in Acapulco, another German is writing a story that would have seemed impossible just a few weeks ago: Yannick Hanfmann, at 34 years old, has reached his first ATP final. In Santiago, Chile, he defeated the strong Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo in straight sets in the semi-final and is now gunning for his debut title on the World Tour.

The long road of a late bloomer

Hanfmann is no child prodigy, no precocious number one. He's the opposite: a worker, a fighter who ground his way through the Challenger tour, repeatedly set back by injuries. But it's precisely this down-to-earth quality that makes him so dangerous now. In the first round in Santiago, he dispatched American Zachary Svajda, followed by a hard-fought three-set victory over Britain's Andy Murray. Yes, that Murray, who has won almost everything in his career. Hanfmann wasn't fazed – and served the former world number one out of the arena with a mix of powerful serves and varied play.

The match against Murray was the turning point. Suddenly, the tennis world wasn't just talking about Carlos Alcaraz or the next young gun, but also about the Karlsruhe native with the unorthodox technique. In the quarter-final, Zachary Svajda awaited – again, Hanfmann showed his nerve and moved confidently into the semi-final. That he then dominated Cerundolo, the world number 22, in straight sets is the logical consequence of a form curve pointing steeply upwards.

Comparison with the world's best: Where does Hanfmann stand?

Of course, the success on South American clay is somewhat relative when measured against the pace of the Masters tournaments. But the development is remarkable. Comparisons with players like Carlos Alcaraz fall short – the Spaniard plays in a different league. But Hanfmann has shown he can hold his own against top-20 players. His forehand is a weapon, his serve varied enough to compete on faster surfaces too. The only thing missing so far was that final step to the absolute top. In Santiago, he has the chance to take exactly that step.

• First Round: Yannick Hanfmann (GER) vs. Andy Murray (GBR): A three-set thriller that brought self-belief.
• Quarter-final: Yannick Hanfmann vs. Zachary Svajda: Managed cleverly, without any major lapses.
• Semi-final: Yannick Hanfmann vs. Francisco Cerundolo: Possibly his best performance of the season.

The final opponent and the chances

Waiting in the final is either the local favourite or another tough South customer. Whoever it is: Hanfmann has nothing to lose. At 34, he knows opportunities like this are rare. His coaching team particularly praises the mental strength of the past few weeks. "He's playing freely, enjoying every moment," said a team member on the sidelines of the tournament. This very looseness could be the key to finally bringing the first ATP title back to Germany – one that no one had on their radar before the season.

And that brings us to the uncomfortable truth beyond the court: For sponsors, a 34-year-old debutant in the final is a godsend. His story is marketable, it's authentic, it resonates. Brands that don't just want to back the usual suspects like Zverev should pounce now. Because no matter how the final ends: Yannick Hanfmann has played his way into the consciousness of tennis fans. And at a time when most careers are already winding down.

I'll definitely be watching the final. Because when someone like Hanfmann suddenly steps into the spotlight, it's no longer about numbers or ranking points. It's about the pure joy of sport. And that is infectious – for fans and perhaps for one or two advertising campaigns too.