Cedrik-Marcel Stebe



Birthdate: 9-Oct-90
Birthplace: Mühlacker, Germany
Residence : Vaihingen Enz, Germany
Height: 1m83
Weight: 72 kg
Plays: Left-handed
Turned Pro: 2010
Coach : Alexander Waske

Stebe Victorious In Sao Paulo

20.11.2011

Fifth seed Cedrik-Marcel Stebe won the inaugural ATP Challenger Tour Finals on Sunday as he defeated fourth seed Dudi Sela 6-2, 6-4 in the final in Sao Paulo.

After losing his opening match in straight sets against Sela on Wednesday, Stebe benefitted from the round-robin format to recover and avenged that defeat in Sunday’s final as he broke Sela four times from eight opportunities for victory in 86 minutes.

"I can't believe it yet," admitted Stebe. "It was a great tournament, so many nice people. [Sela] is a really good player, he played already in the Top 30, and it's an amazing feeling to beat a player like this.

"I started a little weak (this week) but I kept trying to do my best and get back to my game and it worked out in the end. I was more aggressive and that's how it should be."

The 21-year-old Stebe capped what has been a breakthrough season. The German left-hander was outside the Top 400 of the South African Airways ATP Rankings in February. But after winning two ATP Challenger Tour titles in Bangkok (d. Weintraub) and Shanghai (d. Kudryatsev), and reaching the final in Kyoto (l. to Meffert), he cracked the Top 100 at No. 99 last month and is currently World No. 103.

Former World No. 29 Sela came into Sao Paulo at No. 9 in the 2011 ATP Year-To-Date Challenger Rankings after winning three titles in the space of five weeks at Busan (d. Ito), Fergana (d. Jones) and Nottingham (d. Chardy).

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Countdown To 2012 - Names To Look Out For

by ATP Staff | 27.12.2011

As part of our 'Countdown to 2012' series, ATPWorldTour.com profiles the rising stars who will look to make their mark in the upcoming season.

The Australian Open has a tradition of setting the stage for burgeoning ATP World Tour stars to make their breakthrough. Remember Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in 2008? What about Marcos Baghdatis lighting up the court in 2006?

Canadian Milos Raonic announced himself on the world stage in Melbourne this year, qualifying into the main draw before beating World No. 10 Mikhail Youzhny to reach the fourth round (l. to Ferrer). The 20 year old went on to be voted 2011 ATP World Tour Newcomer of the Year after winning his first title at the SAP Open (d. Verdasco) in San Jose and finishing on the verge of the Top 30.

Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov was another star to emerge at the first major tournament of the year, beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Robin Soderling to reach the quarter-finals (l. to Murray). The enigmatic 23 year old would finish the year No. 15 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings after compiling a 38-29 match record, including winning his first ATP World Tour title at the ATP Studena Croatia Open in Umag (d. Cilic).

As the new season approaches, Raonic and Dolgopolov won’t be the only players looking to back up strong 2011 results. Russia’s Alex Bogomolov Jr., was named the 2011 ATP World Tour Most Improved Player of the Year after rising from No. 166 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings at the end of 2010 to a career-high No. 33 in November. At the age of 28, he compiled a 27-21 match record, eclipsing the total number of matches he had won on the ATP World Tour prior to this season.

Going into 2012 a host of rising ATP World Tour stars are poised to make their move in the South African Airways ATP Rankings. All eyes will be on leading Australian prospect, World No. 42 Bernard Tomic, who showed his promise with a run through to the 2011 Wimbledon quarter-finals (l. to Djokovic) as a qualifier. The Gold Coast teenager excited local fans in Melbourne last year with victories over two Top 50 players before falling in the third round to Rafael Nadal.

American Donald Young made his long-awaited mark at this year’s US Open, defeating Stanislas Wawrinka en route to the fourth round, before going on to reach his first ATP World Tour final at the PTT Thailand Open (l. to Murray) in Bangkok. The 22 year old finished the year a career-high World No. 39 and will look to continue his rise at the Australian Open.

Other names to watch out for in 2012 will be Bulgarian 20-year-old Grigor Dimitrov, who is still looking to transition his strong junior results to the professional tour; American teenager Ryan Harrison, who reached two ATP World Tour semi-finals this season; and German 21-year-old Cedrik-Marcel Stebe, who finished the year a career-high World No. 81 after winning the inaugural ATP Challenger Tour Finals in Sao Paulo (d. Sela).

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