ATP Munich: will Jan-Lennard Struff make it into a final for the first time?
Jan-Lennard Struff will play in the semifinals of the ATP Tour 250 tournament in Munich against Ilya Ivashka (from 1.30 p.m. on ran.de) to make it into the final of a single event for the first time.
by Jens Huiber
last edit:
May 01, 2021, 10:55 am
In June 2019 Jan-Lennard Struff delivered at least one outstanding tennis match on the ATP tour: in the semifinals of the MercedesCup in Stuttgart against Matteo Berrettin i. Small catch? Berrettini was simply unbeatable that week, Struff was the only opponent of the Italian at least able to develop break chances.
It was the last chance of the 31-year-old German Davis Cup player to finally reach a final of an ATP tournament. And then go for the win. That is and will remain his big goal, said Struff after making it into the semifinals of the BMW Open in Munich. No matter where, but especially in Germany, why not in Munich this weekend. Struff has already started seven attempts, each time losing a match before the final.
The requirements for a premiere in Munich have changed, whether for the better remains to be seen. In the end, Struff had to assume that there would be a meeting with Alexander Zverev in the semifinals at the MTTC Iphitos, but he said goodbye to Ilya Ivashka. What makes Jan-Lennard Struff from a solid outsider to an equally solid favorite. Although the man from Belarus has shown very strong tennis in the last few days, he has already won five matches in Munich including qualifying.
Struff never gets too passive
Struff struggled against Filip Krajinovic on Friday at least as hard as he did in the round of 16 against Dominik Koepfer. But pulled through his aggressive game like he did against his compatriot until the end. What differentiated Struff from Zverev, who often seemed too passive in the decisive phases against Ivashka. And then had huge problems again with his serve. Ilya Ivashka cannot hope for 14 free points via a double fault from Jan-Lennard Struff.
The Warsteiner is only supported in Munich by physio Uwe Liedke. It is not the first time that this couple has been traveling without coach Carsten Arriens. Liedke exudes an unshakable calm, as does Jan-Lennard Struff. Against Koepfer, however, a racket had to believe in it, against Krajinovic the German kicked a shoe over the center court. If it helps to finally win the first tournament: go ahead.
Here the single tableau in Munich
miphitos