Quarterfinal entry in Stuttgart
Tennis climber Struff breaks bankruptcy series
06/15/2023 at 6:26 p.m
With 21 aces, Jan-Lennard Struff manages something he has failed four times before: a win against the American Tommy Paul. The German number 24 in the tennis rankings has reached the quarterfinals in Stuttgart. The heaviest possible opponent is probably waiting there.
Tennis professional Jan-Lennard Struff has confirmed his strong form with the quarter-finals at the lawn tournament in Stuttgart. With nerves of steel, the 33-year-old from Sauerland won his round of 16 against the American Tommy Paul 7:6 (7:4), 7:6 (7:5). Against the world number 16. Struff had not won a set in four games before. “I’m just happy that I was able to get my first win in the fifth comparison. It’s even better that the first win in front of a German audience was successful,” said Struff after a duel without long rallies.
This time, the number 24 in the world resolutely grabbed the chance in the tie-break and secured the decisive advantage with a forehand pass ball. With an ace, he made it clear in the first encounter with Paul on grass that he won the first set. Struff had recently caused a sensation by reaching the final at the Masters in Madrid and after a difficult year in 2022 he had rocketed up the world rankings.
In the second round, the former Stuttgart semi-finalist fell behind with a break right after the first game, but struggled back and continued to be positive and self-confident. He equalized again to make it 3:3. Struff had the first match ball at 6: 5, he then used the third – again it was an ace in the tie-break. His total of 21 aces was a deciding factor.
In the quarter-finals on Friday, top seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas could now be waiting for the German number two if the Greek lives up to his role as favorite and asserts himself in his round of 16 against Frenchman Richard Gasquet.
Struff was the only German participant in the round of 16 of the event, which was endowed with 797,730 euros. Daniel Altmaier and last year’s semi-finalist Oscar Otte lost in the first round. Alexander Zverev, who had contested his semi-finals at the French Open just three days before the start of the tournament in Stuttgart, canceled due to thigh problems.