Struff at the French Open: Koepfer can’t get past Federer


Struff at the French Open
Koepfer can’t get past Federer

Strongly fought and yet lost: Dominik Koepfer barely missed a surprise win against Roger Federer at the French Open in Paris. With Alexander Zverev and Jan-Lennard Struff, two other German tennis players move into the round of 16.

Dominik Koepfer defied Roger Federer, put the “Maestro” under pressure again and again – and then missed a real career highlight long after midnight. The 27-year-old German number three lost to the Grand Slam record champion in the third round match in Paris 6: 7 (5: 7), 7: 6 (7: 3), 6: 7 (4: 7), 5: 7 and left the chance to follow Jan-Lennard Struff and Alexander Zverev into the second round of the French Open. Three German men among the best 16 in Paris – that would have been a novelty.

While Koepfer was disappointed packing his things on the Court Philippe-Chatrier, Struff was already resting in the hotel for his next task. “I’m happy that I came through in three sets,” said the 31-year-old from Warsteiner, who tamed the 13-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz 6: 4, 7: 6 (7: 3), 6: 1 in the afternoon and made it into the round of 16 for the second time since 2019: “He’s a great player. I really had to be careful.”

Kohlschreiber pains defeat

Struff will now meet Diego Schwartzman from Argentina, who was seeded in tenth place and had previously defeated Philipp Kohlschreiber on Saturday. The 37-year-old veteran had no chance at 4: 6, 2: 6, 1: 6 against last year’s semi-finalists and missed his third round of 16 participation.

The longtime Davis Cup player had hoped for more. “Before the tournament I would have signed it to win two matches against strong opponents in a Grand Slam, today you are of course disappointed,” said Kohlschreiber: “At the moment I’m not happy about the tournament, the defeat is too recent for that. ” He left it open whether the 17th participation in Roland Garros was his last.

While Kohlschreiber had less and less to oppose Schwartzman’s dominance after a strong start, Struff bribed with great concentration and a clever plan that repeatedly provided for network attacks. Koepfer played at eye level with Federer right from the start, and the momentum kept changing. Ultimately, however, the experienced Swiss had the better nerve.

Before that, Alexander Zverev had already moved into the round of the last 16 on Friday and is already looking to Sunday and the duel in the evening with the Japanese Kei Nishikori. He has already defeated the 31-year-old in Rome this year and on the way to winning the Masters in Madrid. “It will be a tough nut to crack,” said Zverev: “I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

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