SANTIAGO, Chile – At 34, Yannick Hanfmann is still chasing his first professional title, and this Sunday at the ATP 250 in Santiago he will have a significant opportunity to achieve what he describes as a highly complex milestone.
“Winning an ATP title? It’s extremely difficult. It’s one week where you have to put everything together, and every day can be a different challenge,” Hanfmann told CLAY at the Chile Open.
The German, currently world No. 81, has reached the third final of his career. “I’m 34, but I consider myself a little bit younger. I started later because I played college tennis. I turned professional at 23 or 24. Physically I feel good. I don’t feel old yet.”
All the finals in which Hanfmann has featured have come at clay-court events played at altitude — his preferred conditions. He did so in Gstaad in 2017 (1,050 metres above sea level) and in Kitzbühel (760 metres) in 2020. The courts in Santiago, at the foot of the Andes, also sit above 1,000 metres. A specialist in high-altitude clay?
“I think so, yes. I don’t know which other clay tournaments at altitude are left — maybe Quito, but that doesn’t exist anymore. I like altitude a lot. It means a lot to me to be in another final. Gstaad was many years ago, Kitzbühel as well. I hope to get a different result tomorrow,” he said after defeating Francisco Cerúndolo, the top seed, 6-3, 6-4.
“Altitude suits my game. If I play well like that, I can beat pretty much anyone in these conditions. I think I have many variations that elevate all aspects of my game at altitude,” said the former world No. 45.
Hanfmann can now tell compatriot Alexander Zverev that he has achieved something the current world No. 4 has not: reaching a final in South America. The three-time Grand Slam finalist had a modest run in 2025 at the Argentina Open and Rio Open, failing to move beyond the quarter-finals.
“He will probably say he didn’t play in Chile. We spoke last year in Rio. He was very surprised by the difference in the clay, the humidity and everything, the style of play. And in Buenos Aires it wasn’t easy for him either. He acknowledged that it’s not an easy trip. And I don’t think it is — not for anyone,” Hanfmann said during his fifth appearance on the South American swing.
“Having several years already playing the Golden Swing is definitely an advantage for me. These tournaments challenge you physically and mentally. Maybe not like the Middle East. I’m not sure if Sascha is coming back. But if he does, I think he’ll be a little more ready,” added Hanfmann, who will face Italy’s Luciano Darderi in the Santiago final.
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